GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's soccer prepares for a final push to the conference playoffs this week. The Mountaineers have two matches remaining in the regular season and sit tied for the final conference tournament spot.
 
Western (4-8-2, 3-6-1 RMAC) has 10 conference points this season, which is the same as their opponent Saturday, New Mexico Highlands University (3-9-2, 3-6-1 RMAC). The Mountaineer and Cowgirls are tied for the final tournament spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
Western controls their own destiny and will clinch a spot in the RMAC Tournament if they win both matches this weekend.
 
The top eight teams make the RMAC Tournament. Westminster College, currently in seventh place, is not eligible for the postseason due to their transition to the NCAA.
 
Both matches remaining for the Mountaineers will be played on the road. On Thursday, Western will travel to face CSU-Pueblo (7-6-1, 6-3-1 RMAC) at 7 p.m. under the lights. The Thunderwolves have already clinched a conference tournament spot and sit fifth in the conference standings.
 
Western has yet to defeat CSU-Pueblo in the regular season. The Mountaineers are 0-3-1 all-time against the Thunderwolves.
 
After Thursday night's match, Western will travel to Taos, New Mexico for an 11 a.m. match against NMHU on Saturday. Michael Messina Field, the home field for NMHU in Las Vegas, New Mexico, is currently undergoing renovations and is the reason for the match being played in Taos, New Mexico on Eco Park Field.
 
Prior to Saturday's match, the Cowgirls host UC-Colorado Springs, ranked third in the conference, on Thursday.
 
Western won the last matchup against NMHU 2-0 in 2016. However, the Cowgirls lead the all-time series 4-1.
 
Also still alive in the RMAC Tournament chase is Adams State University. The Grizzlies sit one-point shy of the Mountaineers and Cowgirls. ASU faces No. 18 Colorado School of Mines on Thursday and Colorado Christian University on Saturday. Both matches are on the road. Western does hold the tie-breaker against the Grizzlies.
 
Although currently tied for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament, the Mountaineers have the potential to earn the sixth seed by the end of the weekend. Sitting ahead of Western is Fort Lewis College with 12 points in the seventh spot and Colorado Mesa University with 13 points in the sixth spot. Both hold the tie-breaker over the Mountaineers, so Western will need to surpass their point total to jump positions.
 
RMAC Tournament Clinching Scenarios for Western

• If Western defeats CSU-Pueblo and NMHU
  • In the tournament
• If Western defeats CSU-Pueblo and ties NMHU
  • In the tournament on goal differential over NMHU if NMHU defeats UCCS, and as long as ASU doesn't win both matches
• If Western defeats CSU-Pueblo and loses to NMHU
  • Eliminated from tournament contention
• If Western ties CSU-Pueblo and defeats NMHU
  • In the tournament as long as ASU doesn't win both matches
• If Western ties CSU-Pueblo and loses to NMHU
  • Eliminated from tournament contention
• If Western ties CSU-Pueblo and ties NMHU
  • In the tournament as long as NMHU doesn't defeat UCCS and ASU doesn't win both matches or win one and draw the other
• If Western loses to CSU-Pueblo and defeats NMHU
  • In the tournament as long as ASU doesn't win both matches
• If Western loses to CSU-Pueblo and ties NMHU
  • In the tournament as long as NMHU loses to UCCS, and ASU doesn't win either match
• If Western loses to CSU-Pueblo and loses to NMHU
  • Eliminated from tournament contention