GUNNISON, Colo. – Two early goals were the difference in Western State Colorado University's match against No. 16 Regis University on Sunday. The Rangers defeated the Mountaineers 2-0 on the final home match of the season for Western.
 
With the loss, Western (4-8-2, 3-6-1 RMAC) is now tied with New Mexico Highlands University for ninth place in the conference standings. Both teams have 10 conference points and sit two points behind Fort Lewis College in the final conference playoff spot.
 
Colorado Mesa University and Westminster College are tied for sixth place, each with 13 conference points.
 
Western has two matches remaining in the regular season. Next Thursday, the Mountaineers will travel to face CSU-Pueblo. The Thunderwolves clinched a playoff spot on Sunday and currently sit fourth in the conference standings.
 
The Mountaineers will then have a showdown with New Mexico Highlands on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Taos, New Mexico. This match could possibly decide if one of these two teams make the conference tournament. The Cowgirls will face UC-Colorado Springs on Thursday.
 
The Skyhawks of Fort Lewis, the team Western will need to supplant in the standings, will face Colorado Christian University on Thursday and the Colorado School of Mines on Saturday. Two wins or one win and one tie by FLC would secure a playoff spot for the Skyhawks.
 
Westminster and CMU each have one match remaining and each play the last place Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets.
 
Regis (12-2-2, 10-0-1 RMAC) scored the first goal of Sunday's match in the 19^th minute. Bethany Hohnstein notched her fourth of the season after a through ball down the right side from Rikki Fix found Hohnstein.
 
The Rangers would add a second goal five minutes later on a header from Cate Parchinski.
 
Western looked to have a goal in the first half after a well-timed header pushed the Regis goalkeeper into the net. However, it was said the ball never crossed the line and the Mountaineers went back to the drawing board.
 
 Free-kick specialist Kimberlee Bourelle nearly got a goal back for the Mountaineers in the 64^th minute after a Ranger foul. Bourelle powered a shot over the Regis keeper from 30-yards out, but the shot glanced off the crossbar.