LARAMIE, WYOMING — Colorado St. and Wyoming served up an offensive showcase Thursday night, combining for six goals in a 3-3 draw that left both teams with mixed feelings about what could have been. The Rams, ranked among the Mountain West's elite at 10-3-5, came from behind twice to earn the point against the struggling Cowboys in front of a sparse crowd at the home venue.
Kaja Dionne gave Colorado St. an early lead in the 14th minute, but Wyoming answered back through Jazi Barela in the 57th minute. The Rams' Michaela McGowan restored their advantage shortly after, only to see Alyssa Glover equalize for the Cowboys in the 58th minute. Jennah Wanner put Wyoming ahead 3-2 in the 63rd minute before Mia Casey's late strike in the 85th minute salvaged the draw for Colorado St., which entered the match unbeaten in its last two outings.
The first half belonged largely to Colorado St., which controlled possession and created the better chances early. Dionne's opener came after the Rams had settled into their rhythm, and they looked poised to build on that advantage. Wyoming, however, showed resilience despite being outshot 11-10 overall. The Cowboys made tactical adjustments at halftime that would prove significant in the second-half surge.
Wyoming emerged from the break with renewed intensity, pressing higher and forcing Colorado St. into defensive mistakes. The home side's aggressive approach paid immediate dividends when Barela found the back of the net in the 57th minute. McGowan's quick response kept the Rams in front, but the momentum had shifted decisively toward the Cowboys. Wyoming's attacking players—particularly Glover and Wanner—began finding dangerous spaces in the final third.
Colorado St. dominated the corner-kick battle, earning eight compared to Wyoming's five, yet couldn't convert that territorial advantage into a decisive advantage. The Rams' four shots on goal matched their output from open play, while Wyoming managed six shots on target despite having fewer overall attempts. Both teams showed defensive vulnerabilities, with Colorado St. goalkeeper making three saves to Wyoming's one.
Bridget Arnold anchored Colorado St.'s backline with steady distribution, while Eliza-Grace Smith provided crucial defensive cover for Wyoming before being substituted late. The midfield battle intensified as the match wore on, with both teams making wholesale changes in the second half to inject fresh legs and tactical flexibility.
The draw leaves Colorado St. at 10-3-5 overall, maintaining its strong position in the Mountain West standings despite dropping two points on the road. Wyoming, now 7-6-6, extended its winless streak to three matches after losses to New Mexico and San Diego State earlier this week. For the Rams, the result represents a missed opportunity to pad their resume ahead of the NCAA Tournament selection process. For the Cowboys, it's a moral victory of sorts—a sign that they can compete with the conference's top teams despite recent struggles.
Colorado St. returns home to face Nevada next, looking to build momentum after the road draw. Wyoming hosts Air Force in its next contest, hoping to finally break into the win column and arrest its recent slide down the conference standings.