Cowgirl Soccer Looks to Remain Unbeaten Thursday vs. Weber State

LARAMIE -- Wyoming is off to an impressive 2-0 start this season in part because of a stellar defensive effort and arguably the best goal keeper in the Mountain West.

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While she's only faced a grand total of four legit shots on goal, Haley Bartel, the reigning conference defensive player of the week, has already pitched a pair of shutouts in victories over Drake and Northern Colorado. Bartel leapfrogged Ashley Sheppard (18 from 2004-07) in the record books with her 20th-career blanking.

Can Bartel and the Cowgirls do it again this Thursday with visiting Weber State in town?

“We are seeing different systems challenge us in different ways,” head coach Josh Purdum said. “We are seeing how teams are putting us in pressure pockets or not, and we are figuring out how we can exploit teams differently.”

Kick time is slated for 4 p.m. inside the Madrid Sports Complex. You can also stream the game on MW+.

Wyoming, which was picked to finish second in the league in the preseason polls, has netted four goals in the first two outings, courtesy of four different goal scorers: Alyssa Glover, Brooke Brown, Reese Gould and Maddie Burr. It took 13 matches last fall for a fourth goal scorer, as Glover took the bulk of the shots in an 11-goal campaign.

Burr already has an assist on her resume, too. So does Isabel Vasco, Raegan Richardson and Alisa Bunn.

Though it’s a small sample size, Purdum is pleased with the diversity of playing styles his team has seen and had to adjust to thus far in 2026.

Weber State is 0-1-1 on the year. The Wildcats began the season with an impressive 0-0 draw at Utah before dropping a 4-1 decision at home to Boise State.

Weber State was picked to win the Big Sky Conference in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. That comes on the heels of the Wildcats finishing second in the final conference standings in 2025 and falling in penalties to Montana in the league tournament title match.

“Weber is going to be a very organized team and a very competitive team,” Purdum said. “They’re going to look to clip us on Thursday, so we have to be prepared for them.”

After Thursday, Wyoming has a week off between matches. The Cowgirls will next take the pitch when they host South Carolina on Aug. 27 in what will be one of the biggest matches in the history of the Madrid Sports Complex.

Thursday night is also "Pups at the Pitch" night in Laramie. Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs and receive free Wyoming leashes, bandanas and doggie bags.

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