BILLINGS, Mont. – A well-executed game plan gave Argo soccer its best win of the season, a big emotional boost, defeating rival and defending Cascade Conference Champion #24 Rocky Mountain College 4-0 on Rocky's home field. The two teams met in the 2015 CCC Finals, with the Battlin' Bears winning a close 1-0 contest.
 
The win reestablishes UGF as one of the top teams in the conference, recovering from a rough 0-2 start, and is also the squad's first win over a ranked team in 2016.
 
"Obviously with Rocky being a rival of ours and the defending champs, we wanted the three points really bad," UGF Head Coach Joseph Yeisley said. "We talked with the guys about the importance of composure in matches like this and to not get involved in things. The guys did a great job of that and I thought that made a huge impact."
 
After a few minutes of offensive pressure from Rocky, one pass from freshman forward George Holloway on a counterattack broke the game open in the 4th minute. His leading through ball sent sophomore Adrian Gomez on a dead sprint with the ball behind the RMC defense. Gomez's initial shot was blocked by the Battlin' Bear keeper but the ball bounced its way under the goal and Gomez finished up the play on an open net.
 
Holloway set up UGF's second goal in the 29th minute as well, taking a shot from just inside the left corner of the penalty box that deflected off the RMC keeper and right to feet of senior midfielder Camilo Martinez right around the PK spot. Martinez took a few dribbles and just managed a lunging flick that floated over the goalkeeper as defenders converged on the ball.
 
"The guys did a great job executing the game plan and finishing the opportunities when they presented themselves," Yeisley said. "We spoke with the team about specific areas we felt we could exploit and I thought the attack did just that every time it opened up."
 
In the 40th minute, Martinez struck again, scoring his third goal of the season on a penalty kick that made the score 3-0 heading into half time. It was UGF's efficiency on offense that made the diference in the first 45 minutes, with Rocky outshooting UGF 6-4 in the half, but the Argos turning three of those shots into goal.
 
The second half saw UGF park the bus in front of the goal with Rocky getting off 10 shots to the Argos 1. Just as in the first half, however, UGF made the most of its limited opportunities.
 
That one shot came in the 59th minute on another UGF counterattack. This time, instead of Holloway setting up teammates with good plays are didn't quite earn him assists, Holloway found himself on the scoring end of a gorgeous assist.
 
A goal kick from UGF's keeper, Marc Girones, got knocked around a bit before taking a big hop in front of junior forward Christopher Chavez who clicked his heels in the air, making contact with the ball and sending it lofting over the RMC backline to a charging Holloway. The British import watched the ball take one bounce right at the top of the penalty box and as the keeper came off his line he lofted the ball over his head and into the net.
 
Not only did UGF's attack make the most of its opportunities, but the team's defense hung tough to earn a shutout in a game that saw the Battlin' Bears maintain a lot of possession. While the Argos allowed 16 shots, only 4 of those found their way on frame and most of those were easy saves for Girones.
 
The Argos are now on a 3-game win streak that brings the team's record to .500 for the first time this season at 4-4 (3-2). UGF will look to extend the streak during a road match against College of Idaho on October 2 at Noon.