Western Colorado vs. Western Oregon
4 p.m. Friday | Maverick Field | Grand Junction, Colo.
WATCH | LIVE STATS

Western Colorado vs. West Texas A&M
1:30 p.m. Sunday | Dirks Field | Durango, Colo.
WATCH | LIVE STATS

GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's soccer team hits the road to open the season as it plays a pair of neutral site games this week – taking on Western Oregon 4 p.m. Friday in Grand Junction and West Texas A&M 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Durango.
 

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE SEASON | SPRING 2021 SEASON STATS
Western Colorado heads into the season returning 13 players from a team that went 1-8 during the spring (the 2020 season was pushed back and shortened due to the pandemic) in coach Amanda Raso's first season.
 
The Mountaineers return two All-RMAC members from last season in Jessie Jacobsen and Caileen Sienknecht. Jacobsen was named to the All-RMAC Second Team after leading the Mountaineers with two goals. Sienknecht was named All-RMAC Honorable Mention after scoring a goal and finishing third on the team in minutes (783).
 
Sophomore defender Abby Raio returns after starting all nine games and finishing second on the team in minutes (786) while fellow sophomore Mary Wilson also returns after starting all nine games at midfield and finishing with an assist. Senior Casey Elnicki started all eight games she played and finished with an assist. Also returning is Laura Pelino (second on team with 13 shots), Alex Mason (started all seven games she played at defender), Casey Ober (played in all nine games with five starts), Sarah Johnson (started all three games she played before an injury ended her season) and Karina Davalos-Morales (played in all nine games).
 
At keeper, the Mountaineers return both Grace Walker (five starts, seven games played, 2.30 GAA) and Kaeyla Noble (four starts, five games, 3.89 GAA). Shelby Olson also returns for the Mountaineers at goalkeeper.
 
New to the roster this season is junior Abbie Riley (a transfer from Western Wyoming Community College who missed last season) along with freshmen Justice McKee, Tawny Roberts, Miriam Ney, Grace Borden, Malia Yang, Bridget Feely, Natasha Kasozi, Jessica Valladares, Kylie Hickox, Kennedy Ross and Gracie Lyman.

WESTERN OREGON HEADING INTO THE SEASON
The Wolves went 2-7 last season, losing to a pair of ranked teams and dropping their final four games – being outscored 14-0. Western Oregon's wins came against Saint Martin's and Humboldt State.

WEST TEXAS A&M HEADING INTO THE SEASON 
The Buffs are coming off a 6-4 season, including going 4-1 in the Lonestar Conference and making it to the conference tournament semifinals – falling No. 1 Dallas Baptist.

THE MOUNTAINEERS VS. WESTERN OREGON, WEST TEXAS A&M ALL-TIME
The Mountaineers are 0-1 all-time against Western Oregon, falling to the Wolves 6-0 in 2019 in Alamosa. This will be the first meeting between Western Colorado and West Texas A&M.
 

- 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 PICKED 12TH IN RMAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL (RELEASE)
The Western Colorado women's soccer team was voted 11th in the RMAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. Western Colorado went 1-8 overall and 1-4 in RMAC play during the spring 2021 season - moved from fall 2020 due to the pandemic.

RMAC Coaches Poll (first place votes)