SPEARFISH, S.D. - The Mountaineers began Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a win Sunday. Western State Colorado University defeated Black Hills State University 3-1.
 
It took Western (3-2-1, 1-0 RMAC) 45 minutes to score, but the Mountaineers were able to do just that before the half. Paige Massey (Jr., Fort Collins, Colorado) scored her second goal of the season to put Western ahead 1-0 at the half.
 
Western controlled the match from the start, outshooting the Yellow Jackets 18-3 in the first half.
 
The Mountaineers didn't have to wait for long to score their next goal. Only two minutes into the second half as freshman Andrea Grillo (Fr., Centennial, Colorado) put away her second goal of the season two minutes into the second half. Midfielder Francesca Rand (Jr., Huntington Beach, California) assisted Grillo on the goal.
 
After a BHSU (0-5, 0-2 RMAC) in the 60^th minute, Rand responded with a goal in the 77^th minute on a free kick from 30 yards away.
 
In the end, Western outshot BHSU 28-10 in the match.
 
The Mountaineers played with 10 players in the final 15 minutes after Izzy Engeman (Sr., Fort Collins, Colorado) was ejected after her second yellow card of the match.
 
Gillo led the match with seven total shots and two on net.
 
The Mountaineers will continue the season next Friday at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.