AUSTIN – St. Edward's women's soccer made a frenetic push down the stretch against the No. 8-ranked University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions, but could not capitalize on several late opportunities in a 2-1 loss. 

The Mountain Lions executed their game plan to near perfection early, spreading the Hilltopper defense out with a patient attack befitting a top-10 team in the nation. UCCS built from the back and quickly reversed the field to bring advantageous matchups into focus, then took advantage of its forwards' great pace with long passes or runs into open space. 

St. Edward's did well just to clear the ball early until UCCS broke through six minutes into the match. The Mountain Lions' Sydney Lasater received a pass near midfield and quickly delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Makayla Merlo. The ball settled into space between the defensive back row and keeper ABBY CARLSON, who came out of the net but was beaten to the ball for the game's first goal. 

The Mountain Lions' second goal came opportunistically when both Fie Steenberg and St. Edward's BAILEY WILLIAMS went to the ground on the left flank with Steenberg the first back to her feet, finding a trailing Sydney Lasater, who found the back of the net with a rocket from just beyond the 18-yard box at the 14-minute mark. 

St. Edward's regrouped and found its footing shortly after, going to the bench and finding lineup combinations to combat the Mountain Lions' pressure. 

ARI RAMIREZ changed the dynamics of the match, utilizing her great pace to create opportunities and giving the Hilltopper midfield room to breathe by forcing the defense to respect her speed on the outside. Likewise, IZZY SINISCALCHI bolstered the Hilltopper attack with a combination of pace and physicality, and SILLE LOENSTRUP's ability to hold possession in the attacking third gave St. Edward's strengths to build on. 

That small foothold and the acclimation to the step up in competition allowed the Hilltoppers to play the Mountain Lions on even terms the rest of the way. 

St. Edward's finally got on the board nearly 72 minutes into the match with KATIE GAY scoring her third goal of the season. Midfielder TRISTYN CABELLO made a mini-run up the field and found Gay on the left side in a small pocket of space. Gay settled the ball and came to a quick stop, firing from 20 yards out and finding the back-right corner of the net for the goal. 

The Hilltoppers made a valiant push, generating three shots in the last nine minutes with two on target, but both were turned away by UCCS keeper Alexis Walker, who had four saves and broke up several other opportunities. 

St. Edward's falls to 2-1 this season. The Hilltoppers will travel to Colorado this weekend for a Friday match against Metropolitan State University and a Sunday contest against Colorado State University-Pueblo.