UNC soccer falls short against the University of Wyoming
Published: Friday, September 7, 2012
Updated: Friday, September 7, 2012 03:09
 "Photo: Spencer Duncan / The Mirror")
Spencer Duncan / The Mirror
UNC junior forward Brittany Dunn (right) dribbles past a Wyoming defender during Thursday’s game at Jackson Stadium. The Bears lost the game 2-0.
UNC’s soccer team fell victim to a second-half letdown in its 2-0 loss to the University of Wyoming (6-1) Thursday at Jackson Stadium.
After controlling play for much of the first half, the University of Northern Colorado (2-3-1) gave up a penalty kick goal, followed by a header to seal the loss.
“Towards the second half, the PK just brought us down, but we can take from the loss the good play in the first half,” senior goaltender Natalie D’Adamio said. “I thought we played well.”
The Bears recorded only two shots on goal — both in the first half, one by freshman defender Adrienne Jordan and the other by sophomore forward Juliana Grover. Head coach Tim Barrera said he felt Grover had a strong start to the game and was a good threat for his team offensively.
“Juliana Grover was killing people down the right flank,” Barrera said. “They really had no answers. They tried a couple different players on her. She got in a couple times. She could have been a little better on some of her shots, but she created a lot.”
The game turned around in the 56th minute when the ball bounced in front of UNC senior defender Janelle Kramer, who was inside the 18-yard box and spun as she tried to play it. The ball nicked the underside of her arm, and for a second it appeared there would be no call, but then came the whistle, awarding Wyoming a penalty kick.
D’Adamio guessed left, but Cowgirls junior forward Olivia Mohtadi shot to D’Adamio’s right, putting the goal in the back of the net and giving Wyoming the lead. The Bears’ goalkeeper said she misread Mohtadi’s approach of the ball.
“You’ve got to either read them or choose a side,” she said. “I didn’t read them well and unfortunately, it was a goal.”
Grover said she thought the team lost its energy and confidence when it fell behind, and that affected its play for the rest of the game.
“We need to pick our heads up after they score,” Grover said. “We need to stick with our composure and know that we can beat them and win, because I think we were definitely the better team. We just
need a result.”
Wyoming’s second goal came in the 70th minute on a cross from junior midfielder Liz O’Reilly and was put away by the head of sophomore forward Lucie McDowell.
The Bears will have some time off before they have the chance to bounce back from this defeat, as their next game is next Friday, when they travel to play Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Barrera said he hopes to have senior forward Danielle Birdsall back when the team begins conference play against Portland State, Sept. 21. Birdsall injured her leg during the Aug. 17 loss to the University of Colorado.
is a member of the 
