(Laramie, WY) – The University of Wyoming soccer team had a little trouble getting to Greeley on Sunday for the Front Range Derby at Jackson Stadium. After that, however, the Cowgirls had little trouble upon arrival.
The Pokes blanked Northern Colorado, 3-0. The win pushes Wyoming to 2-0-0 on the season, while the Bears are now 0-1-0.
“We are starting to develop some depth offensively, and we are starting to develop some belief, as well,” head coach Josh Purdum said. “We had some great runs by both of our wing backs in Reese and Burr, and Vasco created both of them just getting around players and making something happen.
“It was a really good team performance.”
Another part of that team performance was a record-setting one. Goalkeeper Haley Bartel made a pair of saves for her second shutout of the season and 20th career clean sheet. That is tops all-time in program history.
“She’s a special person and a special player. She’s a captain for a reason,” Purdum said. “For me, it’s been a pleasure to coach her for the last 2.5 years, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of her career can produce.”
Reese Gould opened the scoring with her first-career goal in the 32nd minute. Isabel Vasco made a deep run before finding Alisa Bunn who assisted on the score.
Vasco created the second scoring chance, as well. She delivered a ball into Maddie Burr who deposited it into the back of the net to double the Cowgirls’ advantage in the 63rd minute.
Brook Brown capped the scoring, drawing a foul in the box and earning an 80th minute penalty kick. She cashed in, besting Bears’ goalkeeper, Thordis Melsted.
Wyoming returns home for a mid-week match. The Pokes host Weber State on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex.
Bartel named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
Haley Bartel set the new career shutout record at the University of Wyoming on Sunday with her 20th clean sheet. On Monday, the Mountain West Conference honored the Cowgirl goalkeeper with the Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Bartel has begun the 2026 season with a pair of shutouts. She blanked Drake in a 1-0 victory on Thursday with a pair of saves and kept a clean sheet with two more saves in a 3-0 dispatching of Northern Colorado on Sunday.
This marks Bartel’s second-career Defensive Player of the Week award. She also earned one as a junior last season.
The Pokes return home Thursday. They play host to Weber State at 4 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex.