Rams top SMU, 1-0, on penalty-kick goal from Plentl

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's soccer team got a penalty-kick goal from Beth Plentl in the 73rd minute and held SMU off the board the rest of the way in a 1-0 victory over the Mustangs from CSU Soccer Field on Sunday.

Plentl's goal, her first of the season, was created on a run by sophomore forward Ally Murphy-Pauletto and junior midfielder Caeley Lordemann. With two defenders guarding the Colorado State (3-3-2) duo, Murphy-Pauletto threaded a pass along to Lordemann, who ran in on goal but was taken down in the box. Following the collision, a penalty kick was awarded, and Plentl converted on a shot to the right side of the net.

SMU (5-2-1), which entered Sunday receiving the third-most votes of any team outside the United Soccer Coaches' top 25, outshot the Rams, 6-2, over the first half. However, the Rams limited the Mustangs to minimal quality chances, allowing just two of those shots to be directed on goal. SMU also applied pressure following the Rams' goal, earning five corner kicks over the last 10 minutes of regulation. Chief among those opportunities were shots in succession by the Mustangs' Brooke Golik and Celiana Torres in traffic in the 84th minute, with the latter cleared from the goal mouth by a Ram defender.

Aside from the penalty-kick opportunity they created in the 73rd minute, Lordemann and Murphy-Pauletto also connected for a near-goal in the 60th minute. Lordemann played the ball to Murphy-Pauletto in the penalty area, but SMU Samantha Estrada came out of her goal to deny her shot. Sophomore forward Taylor Steinke was the recipient of the rebound after that stop, but fired just high of the net. Steinke also just missed a goal in the 84th minute, as she was denied on a counterattack opportunity created by freshman midfielder Ariell Hopkins.

STAT OF THE MATCH
With the win, the Colorado State women's soccer team finishes nonconference play with a 3-3-2 record. In terms of win percentage, the Rams have never finished with a better nonconference record in a single season in the program's now-six-season history.

IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Bill Hempen
"That was a great ball (from Ally Murphy-Pauletto to Caeley Lordemann), and they had to defend it – even if they don't tackle her, we had the right person (Lordemann) in the right situation. Either way, we'll take it for sure. Our keeper (Hunter Peifer) managed the game very well. She controlled the line all game, and those are the kinds of things you want – to be in complete control in the back. We're excited to come away with the victory today."

NOTES

Hunter Peifer's shutout was her sixth at Colorado State, moving her into a tie for the most solo shutouts on CSU's all-time career list (Jesse McGinley, 2014-15).
Beth Plentl's goal was her first career game-winner.
Peifer, Baylee Bedard, Lexi Swenson, Caeley Lordemann, Plentl and Halley Havlicek each played all 90 minutes against SMU on Sunday.

UP NEXT
The Colorado State women's soccer team begins Mountain West play next week at New Mexico. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT from UNM Soccer Complex on Friday, Sept. 21

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