BILLINGS, Mont. – With a 5-0 victory on Thursday, Western State Colorado University women's soccer remained undefeated and tied a school record for largest victory. The Mountaineers defeated the University of Mary Marauders at a neutral location in Billings, Montana.
 
With three matches now in the books, Western (2-0-1, 0-0 RMAC) not only remains undefeated they have not allowed a goal in 2016.
 
Western's five goal advantage ties the program record for largest victory. The Mountaineers defeated Lubbock Christian 5-0 last season. The five goals also ties the Lubbock Christian match for the second most goals scored by Western in a single match.
 
Goalies Katie Simpson-Johnson (Jr., Boulder, Colorado) and Emilie Eckhart (RFr., Boise, Idaho) combined for the shutout. Simpson-Johnson recorded four saves in 67:10, while Eckhart played the final 22:50.
 
The Mountaineers found the back of the net five times despite outshooting Mary (0-1, 0-0 NSIC) by only one, 12-11. Western managed to put 75 percent of those shots on target (9-of-12), compared to Mary's 36.3 percent (4-of-11).
 
Francesca Rand (Jr., Huntington Beach, California) started the goal scoring in the 10^th minute after colliding with a Mary defender and following the ball past the keeper, kicking it unabated into the net. It is the first of the season for Rand.
 
Western scored three more goals in the first half. Katelyn Mardeusz (Sr., Cave Creek, Ariz.) scored in the 23^rd minute after launching the ball over the keeper's head from 35 yards out.
 
Izzy Engeman (Sr., Fort Collins, Colorado) normally known for her defending, scored off a corner kick just two minutes after Mardeusz for her first career goal. Paige Massey (Jr., Fort Collins, Colorado) assisted Engeman on the goal. It was the only corner kick of the match for the Mountaineers.
 
After helping Engeman earn her first career goal, Massey earned one herself in the 37^th minute after Morgan Wheelock (Fr., Boulder, Colorado) played a through ball from 15 yards out.
 
The lone Mountaineer goal in the second half came from Jessica Kresl (Jr., Aztec, New Mexico). Kresl leads Western in goals with two, after Andrea Grillo's (Fr., Centennial, Colorado) shot deflected off the keeper. Kresl got the rebound and placed her shot into the lower right corner of the net.
 
Western will continue the season on Saturday when they face San Francisco State University in Billings, Montana.