GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- Two years ago the Western Colorado women's soccer team lost a 6-0 contest to Western Oregon in a neutral site game in Alamosa in its season opener.

It's safe to say the Mountaineers have improved a bit since then.

Western Colorado got a goal in the 24th minute from Jessie Jacobsen and made it stand behind a strong effort from its defense to defeat the Wolves 1-0 Friday in its season opener at Maverick Field.

The contest was scoreless until the 23:33 mark in the first half when Laura Pelino found Jacobsen who scored to put the Mountaineers up 1-0.

From there the Western Colorado back line and goalkeeper Kaeyla Noble did the rest with the senior picking up six saves in the victory.

The Mountaineers were outshot 9-4, including 6-2 on shots on goal. Western Oregon also had twice as many corner kicks (10-5), but also committed seven more fouls than Western Colorado (11-4).

It's the first time the Mountaineers, who went 1-8 last season, have won a season opener since beating Eastern New Mexico 3-2 in 2014 - the third year of the program's existence.

Western Colorado hits the road again to Durango to play another neutral site game 1:30 p.m. Sunday, taking on West Texas A&M.