GUNNISON, Colo. - Lightning and thunder in the morning made way for sunny skies in the afternoon on Thursday in Gunnison. The skies parted just in time for Western State Colorado University's women's soccer season opener against No. 16 Texas A&M University - Commerce (TAMUC). While the weather was on the side of the Mountaineers, TAMUC took the season opener with a 1-0 victory.

With 15 minutes left to play, TAMUC (1-0, 0-0 LSC) got the break they were searching for as a ball from forward Jade Bell fell to the foot of Savannah Grasser at the top of Western's 18-yard box. Grasser turned took a touch and hammered the ball into the net. It would be the only goal of the match.

Western (0-1, 0-0 RMAC) played a tough physical match against the Lions on Thursday. The Mountaineers were able to take TAMUC's best shots and counter, almost scoring on a long shot from freshman midfielder Ingrid Alvarez (Fr., Aurora, Colorado) in the 59th minute. Alvarez led the team in shots, recording three.

Mountaineer goalkeeper Katie Simpson-Johnson (So., Boulder, Colorado) got the nod for Western after starter Meghan Jedrzejewski (Sr., Longmont, Colorado) was forced to sit after receiving a red card in the final match of the 2014 season. Simpson-Johnson looked solid in net, recording a career high 10 saves.

TAMUC recorded 12 shots in the match, to Western's six. Grasser led all players in shot attempts with four.

In the 37th minute of the first half, TAMUC's bench received a yellow card and head coach Neil Piper was ejected after receiving a red card at the same time.

Western will continue their season on Saturday when they host Texas A&M International University at 1 p.m. on Gateway Field.