SPEARFISH, S.D. - The Black Hills State University women's soccer team found themselves trailing for the first time in 2026 less than a minute into Friday night's match-up at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex and were unable to complete the comeback as they fell to UCCS in a 1-0 decision. The Mountain Lions, one of the preseason favorites in the RMAC, found the net early, just 51 seconds in; however, the Yellow Jacket attack kept the pressure on in a furious comeback attempt. The Green & Gold were just the second team to outshoot the Mountain Lions this year but were unable to capitalize on opportunities in each half.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 0, UCCS 1
Team Records: Black Hills State 6-1-3 (3-1-1 RMAC), UCCS 8-2-1 (4-1-0 RMAC)
Attendance: 233
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UCCS snagged the momentum out of the gates, scoring 51 seconds into the 1st minute as Brooke Pavlich sent a cross pass into the box, which despite being deflected by the Black Hills State defense, found the foot of Luka Johnson who then fired a shot across the box and into the left side of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
- The Mountain Lions continued to apply the early attack, adding three corner kicks, and a shot attempt from Charlize Ellsworth all within the first eight minutes. UCCS also looked to extend their lead to 2-0 in the 8th minute; however, Pavlich's goal was waved off due to an offsides call.
- Black Hills State began to build momentum of their own midway through the first half as Ally Boysen and Ivy Agee each tallied a pair of shot attempts and one shot on target. Boysen recorded the first shot attempt of the match for the Green & Gold in the 14th minute as she headed a shot just left of the net, and then in the 31st minute she sent a shot from the left side of the box towards the top of the net which saw Lucy Kapranos make a leaping save to knock the ball away. Agee then got into the action a few minutes later, first taking a pass forward from Aubri Roth and getting a one-on-one opportunity with Kapranos as she outraced the UCCS defense; however, her shot towards the top center of the net was deflected away. Then in the 33rd minute off a corner kick, Agee flicked the ball behind her just off target and to the right of the net.
- Rian Barthel made her first save of the match in the 38th minute, as Zoe Evans first raced back to disrupt a potential one-on-one opportunity for Pavlich with Barthel, and then the pass over to Ellsworth saw Mirabel Shellabarger challenge the shot attempt that bounced up and into the hands of Barthel to keep it a 1-0 game entering the halftime break.
- Agee recorded her second shot on target in the 52nd minute, making an attempt from the top of the box while falling, sending a low-bouncing shot towards Kapranos in the center of the net.
- Another key opportunity for the Green & Gold came in the 60th minute as Boysen drew a foul in the box for a penalty kick, the first of the year for BHSU. The Yellow Jackets saw Bailey Smith step up to take the attempt, a shot towards the left side of the net which Kapranos made a diving save on to maintain the lead for UCCS.
- While the BHSU attack consistently applied the pressure throughout the second half, Barthel needed to make just one save in the half as Madison Groshong collected the ball out of the air and fired a shot towards the net where Barthel stopped it off the bounce.
- A flurry of five shots in the final six minutes saw Black Hills State attempt to ramp up the pressure late, including just one shot on frame from Boysen as she fought through contact and placed a low shot towards the center of the net for Kapranos to fall on and make the save in the 86th minute.
- The Yellow Jackets controlled the offensive attack in the second half, tallying a 12-3 advantage in shots in the final 45 minutes of action.
- Black Hills State became just the second team this season to outshoot UCCS, holding a 16-6 advantage in total attempts and a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Mountain Lions, however, held an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.
FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Ivy Agee: 7 shots, 2 shots on goal
Ally Boysen: 4 shots, 2 shots on goal
Bailey Smith: 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
Rian Barthel: 2 saves
UP NEXT
Black Hills State looks to bounce back from their first loss of the season on Sunday, October 4, when they face another one of the RMAC's top teams in Colorado Mesa. The match is set for an 11 a.m. kickoff at the Black Hills Power Sports Complex in Spearfish. The match will be streamed live on the RMAC Network.
