GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University took care of business Friday afternoon. The Mountaineers defeated Black Hills State University 3-1, recording 28 shots against the Yellow Jackets.
 
Western (2-7, 2-3 RMAC) earned three important conference points on Friday. The Mountaineers are now tied with Colorado Christian University for seventh place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the first half, but the Mountaineers recorded 17 first-half shots to BHSU's two.
 
Western's 28 shots ties for second most in program history.
 
Coming off the bench, Alex Mason got the scoring started for the Mountaineers. Mason knocked a 30-yard shot over the Yellow Jacket goalkeeper's head to put Western ahead 1-0 in the 60^th minute. It was the freshman's first career goal.
 
Mason recorded six shots on Friday, tying for the fifth most shots in a match for a Mountaineer.
 
14 minutes later, a foul was called just outside the top of the penalty box. Mason lined-up for the free kick and blasted the ball into the top right corner for her second goal of the match.
 
In the 78^th minute, Caitlin Cox added another goal for Western. Cox dribbled around the BHSU back line and shot from just inside the penalty box on the left side, slipping the ball past the outstretched arms of the BHSU goalie for her first goal as a Mountaineer.
 
The Yellow Jackets earned one goal back in the 82^nd minute, but it was too little, too late for the Yellow Jackets as the Mountaineers rolled to a 3-1 victory.
 
Mason and teammate Megan Wheelock each recorded three shots on net, while Katie Desch notched a total of four shots.
 
Emilie Eckhart earned her second victory this season in net for Western.
 
The Mountaineers improve to 2-1 at home.
 
Western returns to the pitch on Sunday when they host Regis University at 1 p.m. on Gateway Field.