PHOENIX — The University of Wyoming soccer team outshot Grand Canyon 29-9 but could not overcome a late goal Wednesday, falling 2-1 at GCU Stadium.
The loss dropped the Cowgirls to 11-5-1 overall and 4-3-1 in Mountain West Conference play, leaving them with 13 points. Grand Canyon improved to 8-5-4 overall and 4-3-1 in league play, also with 13 points.
With two regular-season matches remaining, Colorado College leads the conference standings with 19 points, followed by Air Force and Hawai’i with 18 points each and New Mexico with 16. The top four teams qualify for the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
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Grand Canyon took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute when Ellie Johannes scored off a pass from Mai-Helen Nguyen Todnem.
Wyoming responded in the 72nd minute when Arizona native Raegan Richardson converted a penalty kick to tie the match at 1-1. It was Richardson’s second goal of the season.
The match remained tied until the 87th minute, when Amanda Adams scored the game-winner for Grand Canyon. McKayla Gwynn and Johannes assisted on the goal.
Despite the loss, Wyoming generated plenty of scoring opportunities, finishing with 29 shots, tied for the fourth-most in a single game in program history. Maddie Burr led the Cowgirls with six shots, while Isabel Vasco, Alyssa Glover and Erin Dahl recorded four each.
Grand Canyon goalkeeper Emma Knack made a season-high 11 saves to help preserve the victory. Wyoming goalkeeper Haley Bartel recorded one save.
The Cowgirls return home Sunday to host second-place Air Force at 1 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex. With the conference tournament approaching, Wyoming will look to strengthen its position in the standings during its final two regular-season matches.
