Box Score GUNNISON, Colo.  Mountaineer soccer picked up its first victory of the season in Sunday's 3-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win over visiting New Mexico Highlands, with Tawny Roberts scoring what would be the game-winner just before the halftime break at windy Katy O. Rady Field.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. N.M. Highlands, 3-1
Records: Western Colorado 1-6-2 overall (1-2 RMAC), N.M. Highlands 0-7-1 (0-4)
Location: Katy O. Rady Field, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Winds gusting more than than 20 mph the length of the pitch made for challenging continuity not only against the wind, but also with the northerly gusts as throw-ins and passes were sailing past their intended targets.
• Roberts' goal with eight seconds remaining in the opening half was one instance of the wind affecting play. Mei Hayashizaki's goal kick sailed 50 yards with the wind, across the midfield line where a Cowgirl defender got only a glancing touch after the first bounce, the slightly misjudged header sending the ball with the wind back toward her own goal where Natasha Kasozi was able to gather it in. Kasozi dribbled unmarked into the top, right corner of the box before crossing a pass to a streaking Roberts who one-touched a left-footed shot inside the left post from 10 yards out.
• The wind, however, was not in play on the opening goal, in the 16th minute. Reece Mercer sent in a shot from an extreme angle from outside the left of the box, one that the diving Highlands goalkeeper Peyton Greener could only deflect and unmarked Sarah Connolly corralled the loose ball then easily pushed a shot inside the right post before Greener could recover.
• Playing with the wind in the second half, Highlands halved its deficit in the 59th on an unassisted goal by Kaylee Castano, but Western pushed its advantage back to two goals in the 73rd on a corner kick opportunity, lofted into the box by Natsuki Murakami and finished off by Caileen Sienknecht for the only goal of the game against the gusting winds.

TURF NOTES

• Western dominated possession in the contest, controlling action 69 percent of the time including a little more than a third of the game in its attacking third.
• The Mountaineers rang up a total of 33 shots and 14 shots on goal, both figures season highs. In contrast, Highlands registered just three shots total, but all three were on frame, two of which were saved by Hayashizaki.
• Its 17 corner kick chances — against none by the Cowgirls — was also a season best for Western.
• Greener, under siege most of the game, would finish with 10 saves for Highlands in the loss.

NEXT UP
The next two matches, both RMAC contests, will be on the road for the Mountaineers, beginning with Friday's game at Colorado State Pueblo. The weekend trip concludes on Sunday at Colorado School of Mines.