The Real Colorado Cougars battled for two 90-minute matches
versus cross state rival, the Colorado Force, and secured two draws
by the identical scores of 2-2.
Real’s first match was on a breezy evening June 4 at Loveland
Park, just outside of Fort Collins, on the Force’s home turf. The
first half was even with both teams having their chances.
The Cougars, a USL W-League semiprofessional soccer team that
makes a home of Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch, and the Force did
play a man down for part of the first half, as well as the entire
second half when Cougars forward Becca Mays, along with Estelle
Johnson of the Force, were ejected from the game with matching red
cards.
In minute 54, Real struck first, when outside midfielder Kellyn
Farrell cut back across the box and drilled a left-footed shot into
the goal. The Force evened the score a few minutes later when Force
midfielder Molly Thomas had a breakaway and slotted a ball just
inside the near post to beat Cougars goalkeeper Kristin Arnold.
In the 76th minute, the Force had another breakaway goal when
Force midfielder Emmalie Phantuch brought a ball down off her chest
and drilled a hard shot just outside the reach of Arnold to put the
Force up 2-1.
Real evened the match in minute 87, when Cougars defender and
U.S. U23 National team player Brianne Young hammered a free kick
from 35 yards out to knot the score at 2-2. Young, the Cougars free
kick specialist, continues to be a threat from long distance with
her left-footed strikes. This was the final goal of the match and
the Force and the Cougars ended the game in a 2-2 draw.
Real returned home three days later to take on the Force June 7
at Shea Stadium on a cool and drizzly afternoon.
The Cougars opened the scoring when Real midfielder Vanessa Mais
chipped a shot over the Force wall, on a free kick, which hit the
crossbar and bounced out. Cougars forward Jenna Owens then buried
the rebound into the net to put the Cougars up 1-0.
In minute 43, the Force tied the game, when Force newcomer
Jessica Boots tied the game when she punched a shot in, in the
midst of a scrum in front of Cougars goalkeeper Taylor Vancil’s
net.
The first half saw the Cougars and Force tied at 1-1. The match
statistically was even. The Cougars had eight shots on goal to the
Force’s seven, and Force keeper Kara Linder had fives saves to
three for Vancil.
In the second stanza, Real struck first when Cougars forward
Taryn Hemmings took on two defenders inside the 18 and played a
terrific slotted ball to Farrell, who scored on a hard shot just
inside Linder’s near post.
The Force came back in minute 66, when Phantuch scored her
second goal in two games, versus Real, when she buried a rebound
off a corner kick in the back of the net. In minute 67, Young was
issued her second yellow card and was ejected from the match.
Real Colorado head coach Brian Haynes said, “We fought hard
playing a man down for most of the second half, but we certainly
did not get the result we wanted. Our squad will have to regroup
for our match, versus Pail [June 12].”
The second match was even on stats again, as Real ended up with
a slight edge in shots on goal with 10 versus nine for the Force.
The visitors had a slight edge in corner kicks with 3-1 for the
home side and the Linder ended the match with 6-3 for Vancil.
The Cougars faced defending 2008 W League champion, the Pali
Blues June 12 at Shea Stadium. Results of the game were unavailable
by press time. The Cougars play host to the Los Angeles Legend 6:30
p.m. June 23 at Shea. For more information on the Real Colorado
Cougars and their season visit www.cougars.realcolorado.net.
Cougars
