GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University Women's Soccer opens the 2018 home slate Friday and Sunday. The Mountaineers host seventh-ranked Colorado School of Mines at 3 p.m. Saturday and Colorado Christian University at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
Friday's matchup is Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day on Gateway Field. All Western faculty and staff receive free admission to watch the Mountaineers. Sunday is a Blackout Match, and all fans are encouraged to wear black. The first 50 fans through the gate receive a free t-shirt.
 
Western (0-4, 0-0 RMAC) enter the first weekend against conference opponents searching for their first win of the season. Last weekend the Mountaineers fell to two tough opponents out of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Western fell to Humboldt State University 2-4 before dropping a match against California State University East Bay 0-1.
 
Megan Wheelock and Aspen Heale each have one goal so far this season for the Mountaineers. Emilie Eckhart has played all four matches in net for Western, recording 23 saves.
 
Friday will be the eighth meeting between Western and the Colorado School of Mines. The Orediggers hold a 6-1 lead in the all-time series. At home Western is 1-1, defeating the then third-ranked Orediggers 3-2 in double overtime on Oct. 16, 2016.
 
Against Colorado Christian, Western is 2-1-4 all-time. The last three meetings have each ended in a tie. The Mountaineers are undefeated against the Cougars at home with a record of 1-0-2.
 
CSM (3-0-1, 0-0 RMAC) enters the weekend undefeated, with their lone tie coming against Chico State University.
 
Jennifer Kendall leads the Orediggers with two goals on the season, while goalkeeper Shannon Mooney has played all four games and recorded seven saves.
 
CCU (1-1-2, 0-0 RMAC) will face Colorado Mesa University on Friday before travelling to Gunnison for Sunday's match. The Cougars' lone win of the season came against Wayne State College, 3-1 at home.
 
Stephanie Muchow leads the Cougars in points with three, recording one goal and one assist. Ireland VanDyke has recorded 16 saves in all four games as CCU's goalkeeper.
 
Those unable to attend this weekend's matches can follow live online (live stats, live video), and on social media (@WSCUMountaineer, @WSCUSoccer).