GUNNISON, Colo.  Natsuki Murakami scored her first collegiate goal during first-half action Sunday morning but visiting Midwestern State University Texas rallied with a pair of second-half goals to earn a 2-1 non-conference women's soccer victory over Western Colorado.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Midwestern State def. Western Colorado, 2-1
Records: Western Colorado 0-3-1, Midwestern State 1-1-2
Location: Katy O. Rady Field, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western registered just two shots during the opening 45 minutes but the second one was the one that counted as Murakami deposited a shot from 29 yards out into the upper, right corner of the Mustangs' goal to push the Mountaineers in front in the 19th minute.
• Midwestern State would seek the equalizer over the remainder of the half, outshooting Western 8-2, but only four were on frame and goalkeeper Mei Hayashizaki kept the sheet clean with four saves that allowed the Mountaineers to take a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
• The Mustangs finally did even the game early in the second half when a cross from the left by McKenna Jenkins in the 54th found Lillia Besedin between two defenders for a one-touch goal inside the left post.
• Mary Wilson tried to give Western the lead in the 64th, but Mustangs goalie Lexi Jackson made a diving save to her right to keep the game all square.
• The game looked like it might end all even, but a Western foul in the box in the 87th put Midwestern State's Lexi Beck on the PK dot. Beck cranked a shot inside the left post where Hayashizaki could only get a glancing touch on it before the ball found the netting for what would turn into the game-winning goal.

TURF NOTES

• Western's attack was more pressing in the second half, generating five shots, but none would get behind the Mustangs' Jackson.
• Hayashizaki was strong in goal for Western, coming up with eight saves, four in each half.
• The physical game included three yellow cards whistled on Mustang players.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers head to California for the final two non-conference games on their schedule, starting with a match at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday night and finishing at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday afternoon.