GUNNISON, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season begins Friday afternoon for Western State Colorado University women's soccer. The Mountaineers host Black Hills State University at 3 p.m. on Gateway Field.
 
Western (1-2-1, 0-0 RMAC) earned their first win of the season in their first home game of the season on Sunday against Fort Lewis College. A goal in the eighth minute gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 win over the Skyhawks.
 
Paige Massey leads the Mountaineers in total points with one goal and one assist so far this season. Jessica Kresl leads the team in total shots and is tied for second in the conference, averaging three shots per game.
 
The keeper duo of Katie Simpson-Johnson and Emilie Eckhart also rank high in the conference for Western. Simpson-Johnson's .450 goals against average is third best in the RMAC, while Eckhart's 5.33 saves per game also ranks third.
 
Friday will be the first matchup between these two young programs. Western established their women's soccer program in 2012, while BHSU's inaugural season was in 2016.
 
BHSU (0-5, 0-0 RMAC) is still searching for their first victory of the season. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 3-1 loss to the University of Mary on Sunday in Billings, Montana. In five matches this season, BHSU has a goal differential of -20.
 
Jayden Judy and Katie Nielson lead the Yellow Jackets with one goal scored each. Leading BHSU in shots is Rose Miller, who has attempted shots 10 times.
 
Fans unable to attend Friday afternoon's match in Gunnison can follow the action live online (live stats, live video) and on social media (@WSCUMountaineer, @WSCUSoccer).