Scott Kretzmann
ASC Sports Information
A rainy afternoon at Murphy Field couldn’t dampen the excitement as the Adams State Grizzlies scored their second straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory on the strength of a goal from junior Jessica Hellweg at the 72-minute mark, the only score in the 1-0 decision over New Mexico Highlands on Wednesday.
The win moves the Grizzlies to 3-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play, while dropping Highlands to 3-3-1 and 1-1-1 in the RMAC. The win gives the Grizzlies six RMAC points, putting them in a tie for second in the league along with Regis, who defeated No. 3 Metro State 3-2 Wednesday, No. 12 Fort Lewis which topped Mesa State 2-0. Colorado Mines leads the conference standings with a 3-0 record in league play and nine points. CSU-Pueblo would join the tie for second place with a win over UC-Colorado Springs in their Wednesday night match.
Wednesday was ASC’s second straight home victory over the Cowgirls, and their second win in their last three meetings. The Grizzlies haven’t lost at home against Highlands since Oct. 7, 2005 and have shut Highlands out at Murphy Field five times.
The Cowgirls controlled the ball throughout the first half, outshooting ASC 14-5 and holding the Grizzlies to just one shot on goal.
Rain persisted throughout the contest, but freshman keeper Hannah Kohlts didn’t let anything slip through her grasp. Kohlts stopped all six shots that the Cowgirls put on goal and recorded her first career shutout against a Highlands squad that entered the contest averaging two goals per game.
Hellweg put the Grizzles up on the board after thwarting an attempt by Highlands to clear the ball from their own defensive third. Taking the ball after a Cowgirl defender lost control of it, Hellweg beat the defender to the right and was on target with a strike to the left of Highalnd goalie Shannon Delarosbil. The goal was Hellweg’s fifth of the season and second game-winner is as many matches. Her five goals puts her one shy of her season-high of six, set in 2009, and gives her 13 for her career which leaves her all by herself in third on the Grizzlies all-time list. With 11 points this season, she has also raised her career total to 29, tying her for fourth in the ASC record books in that category.
The Cowgirls Julissa Rodriguez led both sides with nine shots in the contest, two of which were on goal. Hellweg led the Grizzlies with four shots, putting two of them on goal, while sophomore Kaylee Smith had two and was the only other Grizzly with more than one shot in the contest.
Highlands took five corner kicks to the Grizzlies zero, but the Grizzlies defense, led by sophomore Passion Griffin and junior Brooke Dudley only allowed the Cowgrils two shots off those set pieces, neither of which were on goal.
The Grizzlies will hit the road for a pair of RMAC matches this weekend, beginning with a stop in Grand Junction, Colo. to play under the lights against Mesa State at 7 p.m. Friday. The Mavericks fell 2-0 against 12th-ranked Fort Lewis Wednesday afternoon, falling to 2-4-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the RMAC.
Adams State is 3-13-2 all-time against Mesa State, and have lost in their last seven matches. The Grizzlies last win against the Mavericks came by a 2-1 score on Oct. 8, 2006. The teams played twice last season, with the Mavericks topping the Grizzlies 5-0 in Grand Junction on Sept. 11, and 3-9 at Murphy Field on Oct. 11. ASC fans will be able to follow the action at Mesa State with live stats, as well as live video via America One, formerly the B2 Network.
The trip will also include a stop in Durango where the Grizzlies will meet No. 12-ranked Fort Lewis at 1 p.m. Sunday. Live video will be available during that match, as well as a radio broadcast on Radio Durango.
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