GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A disappointing first half turned into an exciting second for Lady Argo soccer, but despite two goals in a four-minute span, UGF came up short against Rocky Mountain College, 3-2. The game was a non-conference match-up between two teams that will face each other again later in the year during conference play.  
 
Rocky Mountain College generally outplayed the Lady Argos through first 45 minutes, outshooting UGF 12-4 and scoring the first goal of the game late in first half.
 
UGF managed two real highlights in the half. The first was a threatening series inside the RMC penalty box that started with a shot from freshman Eme McLaughlin which ricocheted off a defender and fell in front of fellow freshman Jenni Qualm who got off a shot that was saved by the Battlin' Bear keeper.
 
The other was a shot from about 23 yards out from sophomore Sarah Howell that wiggled and dipped towards the top right corner, but again Rocky's keeper was there.
 
Howell started the game at right back and playing an attacking role in 2015, a positional move made necessary by a litany of injuries along the UGF backline. Her first half shot was a foreshadowing that her defensive responsibilities weren't going to negate her offensive output.
 
That became much more clear in the second half. In the 51st minute, sophomore midfielder Sydney Knieriem place a corner kick in front of the RMC net, which the Bears reached first clearing the ball out to the top of the penalty box. That's where Howell was waiting as she lined up the ball, and took a one-time strike out of the air the sailed across the face of the goal into the left side netting.
 
The goal tied the game at 1-1, but only for an instant. The very next statistical play was a goal from Rocky Mountain in the 54st minute to once again put the Lady Argos behind by one.
 
As fast as Rocky retook the lead, UGF tied it up again. This time Howell hit a perfect cross from the right sideline to Knieriem standing in the top left corner of the penalty box. Knieriem controlled the cross, and fired a shot from about 10 yards out that beat the RMC keeper to the near post.
 
Rocky again responded quickly, forcing Lady Argo goalkeeper Kyra Dorvall to make a save. While that play didn't score it did bring the momentum back to the Battlin' Bears. The Bears got off 2 shots and earned 2 corner kicks in the next 10 minutes before once again finding the net in the 65th minute.
 
In the following 25 minutes, UGF continued to scramble for another equalizer, but it wasn't to be. The best chance was a lovely free kick from senior Katie Bennett in the 87th minute that was dipping towards the top left corner but sailed just high of the crossbar.
 
While the Lady Argos dropped to 0-3 with the loss, it was the team's best showing of the season and showed the team is starting to adjust to some devastating preseason and week 1 injuries. UGF gets no more warm-ups, however, as the team's next game marks the start of conference play. The Lady Argos will travel to Salem, Oregon to play Corban University at 5 p.m. MT.