Western Colorado (3-2) vs. #6 UCCS (5-1)
3 p.m. Thursday | Katy O. Rady Field | Gunnison, Colo.
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Western Colorado (3-2) vs. CSU Pueblo (1-4)
1 p.m. Sunday | Katy O. Rady Field | Gunnison, Colo.
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GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's soccer team opens RMAC play this week at home as the Mountaineers host No. 6 UCCS 3 p.m. Thursday and CSU Pueblo 1 p.m. Sunday.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THIS WEEK | 2021 SEASON STATS
Western Colorado is coming off a split on the road in Texas this past week, falling to St. Mary's (TX) 6-3 on Friday before rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the final 20 minutes to defeat Texas A&M International 3-2 on Sunday.

In the loss to St. Mary's, the Mountaineers got a pair of goals from Caileen Sienknecht and another from Casey Ober while Jessie Jacobsen added an assist. In the win over TAMI, Sienknecht scored another goal, this one in the 70th minute to cut the Dustdevil lead to 2-1 (assisted by Laura Pelino). An own goal tied the game 2-2 in the 83rd minute before Bridget Feely scored nine minutes into overtime on an assist from Kylie Hickox to give Western the win.

On the season, Sienknecht leads the team with three goals while Ober has two goals, Jacobsen has a goal and two assists, Hickox has a goal and an assist, Feely has a goal while Pelino has two assists.

In goal, Kaeyla Noble has played all but 16 minutes this season for Western and has a 1.63 GAA and a 0.830 save percentage. 

UCCS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 SEASON STATS
The Mountain Lions are coming off of a pair of wins in Florida last week, defeating Univesrity of Tampa 1-0 last Wednesday before beating Saint Leo 3-0 on Friday. While UCCS' lone loss came 4-3 at home to Texas A&M - Commerce, the Mountain Lions bounced back three days later on Sept. 8 to beat No. 2 Dallas Baptist 3-1 in Dallas.

On the season, Tarah Patterson leads the team with three goals and three assists while Makayla Merlo also has three goals. Fle Steenberg also has three assists while four players have two goals apiece. In goal, Chloe DeShazer has played much of the time at keeper and has a 0.76 GAA and a 0.733 save percentage.

CSU PUEBLO HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 SEASON STATS
The ThunderWolves haven't played since dropping a 2-1 decision to Lubbock Christian in Pueblo on Sept. 15. They have had a tough schedule - a big reason for the 1-4 start - as they have played ranked teams Angelo State (No. 3 at the time, lost 2-0) and Emporia State (No. 15 at the time, lost 5-1). The lone win came over Fort Hays State at home, 1-0 on Sept. 12.

On the season, CSU Pueblo has three goals - one each from Madison Jepperson, Porsche Nieto and Lainee Vujcich while Faith Meredith, Litzy Serna and Allyson Sparks each have an assist. In goal, Nicole Genis has played all 450 minutes and has a 2.20 GAA and a 0.676 save percentage.

THE MOUNTAINEERS VS. UCCS, CSU PUEBLO ALL-TIME
Western Colorado is 2-10 all-time against UCCS, last beating the Mountain Lions Sept. 23, 2015, in Colorado Springs (1-0). This will be the first meeting between these two teams in Gunnison since 2016 as the Mountaineers are 0-4 at home against UCCS.

Against CSU Pueblo, the Mountaineers are 1-5-2 all-time, losing last season 2-0 at home to the ThunderWolves. Western picked up its lone win against CSU Pueblo in 2019 in a neutral site contest in Grand Junction.
 

- MOUNTAINEERS GET OFF TO FIRST 2-0 START SINCE 2014,
Western Colorado's 2-0 start to the season equaled the best start to the season since the 2014 team. That 2014 squad went on to tie its next contest and would start the season 5-0-3 for the team's best undefeated start in program history.

- NOBLE NAMED RMAC GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK (SEPT. 7)
Western Colorado's Kaeyla Noble is this week's Rocky Mountain Athletics Conference Goalkeeper of the Week after picking up two shutouts in two Mountaineer wins. Noble in a 1-0 season-opening win over Western Oregon on Friday in Grand Junction picked up six saves while playing all 90 minutes - facing nine shots. Noble was even more impressive against West Texas A&M in the Mountaineers' 2-0 win Sunday in Durango, picking up 11 saves - tied for the seventh-most in the nation during the opening weekend - while facing 21 shots.

- 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)