GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's soccer team returns to action 3 p.m. Friday as the Mountaineers host Colorado Mesa at Katy O. Rady Field in a non-RMAC contest.

There are no spectators allowed in the facility due to COVID-19 protocols.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | SPRING 2021 SEASON STATS
Western Colorado is coming off a 1-0 loss to Adams State at home on Tuesday in a non-RMAC match. The Mountaineers controlled possession for much of the first half, but couldn't take advantage of their opportunities. The Grizzlies scored in the 69th minute on a Carena Harrison goal.

Caileen Sienknecht leads Western with one goal on the season while Laura Pelino has a team-high nine shots and four shots on goal. Grace Walker has played 215 of the team's 270 minutes and owns a 2.09 GAA with 14 saves and a 0.737 save percentage. 

COLORADO MESA HEADING INTO THE WEEK | SPRING 2021 SEASON STATS
The Mavericks last played Saturday, defeating Western Colorado 2-0 behind goals from Lexi Newton and Kristen Capan and an assist from Sydney Hathaway while goalkeeper Chloe Dody made two saves and picked up the shutout.

Newton and Hathaway lead the team with a goal and an assist apiece while Dody has been in goal all 290 minutes for the Mavericks and has a 0.62 GAA (allowed just two goals this season) with nine saves and a 0.818 save percentage.

THE MOUNTAINEERS VS. COLORADO MESA ALL-TIME
The Mountaineers are 2-8-2 all-time against the Mavericks, having dropped the last six contests against CMU. The last win for Western over the Mavs was Oct. 11, 2015 - a 1-0 win in Gunnison. In Gunnison, the Mountaineers are 2-2-1 against CMU and this will be the first game between these teams played at Katy O. Rady Field.

WESTERN COLORADO NOTES

- WELCOME TO KATY O. RADY FIELD - THE HIGHEST COLLEGIATE SOCCER FIELD IN THE WORLD
Western Colorado women's soccer will debut Katy O. Rady Field this season and it will be the highest collegiate soccer field in the world at 7,723 feet. 

- MOUNTAINEERS LED BY FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH AMANDA RASO
The Mountaineers have a new coach heading into this season as Amanda Raso takes over. Raso spent the previous two seasons at NCAA Division I North Dakota where she supervised the goalkeepers during two of the most successful seasons in Fighting Hawks D-I history. The Aurora, Colorado, native was also an assistant coach at Fort Lewis (2015-17), played for the Skyhawks (2010-14) and also served as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State.

- MOUNTAINEERS PICKED 12TH IN RMAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL (RELEASE)
The Western Colorado women's soccer team was picked 12th in the RMAC when the conference released its preseason coaches poll. The Mountaineers went 3-13-1 in 2019, including 3-9-1 in RMAC play to finish 11th in the conference. This will be the first season under new coach Amanda Raso for Western Colorado as well as its first season on the new Katy O. Rady Field.

RMAC Coaches Poll (first place votes)

1. Colorado School of Mines – 137 (8)

2. UCCS – 121 (3)

3. Westminster – 117 (1)

4. Fort Lewis – 96

5. MSU Denver – 89

6. Regis – 87

7. CSU Pueblo -83

8. Colorado Mesa – 73

9. Colorado Christian – 61

10. Adams State – 60 (1)

11. Black Hills State – 43

12. Western Colorado – 32