COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  Western Colorado was able to pick up possession and its attack in the second half of its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener Sunday afternoon, but host University of Colorado Colorado Springs used a goal in each half to allow the Mountain Lions to take a 2-0 victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: UCCS def. Western, 2-0
Records: Western 0-5-2 (0-1 RMAC), UCCS 4-2-2 (2-0)
Location: Mountain Lion Stadium, Colo. Springs, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineer attack was held without a shot during the first half, one that saw the Mountain Lions score in the 26th minute to earn a 1-0 halftime lead.
• Western got things going early in the second half, though, beginning with a free kick from Caileen Sienknecht that UCCS goalkeeper Isabella Whitmore needed to save along the right post.
• A shot from Jordan Welsh five minutes later continued Western's pressure, this one sailing over the crossbar, but the Mountain Lions countered with a long pass down the right sideline that was collected by Ciara Garcia who snuck a shot inside the right post to push UCCS' lead to two goals.
• Shots by Reece Mercer in the 72nd and Welsh in the 73rd were off target, but one by Bridget Feely in the 82nd nearly halved the deficit.
• A free kick from the middle third found Natsuki Murakami near the top of the box, where she flicked a pass backward to an unmarked Feely who launched a shot that skimmed the top of the crossbar for Western's most dangerous scoring opportunity in the afternoon.
• The Mountain Lions played the possession or clearing game the rest of the way to keep the Mountaineers at bay and hold on for the victory.

TURF NOTES

• Western accumulated five shots over the final 45 minutes.
• Mei Hayashizaki started in goal for Western and made four saves while surrendering one goal. Aubree Orosco took over in frame to start the second half an mirrored those same statistics.
• Welsh, a freshman making her first career start, had her first two shot of the season in the game.
• Ellie Kubena and Sienknecht played every minute of the game, Kubena's fourth complete game this season and Sienknecht's second.

UP NEXT

• Western plays on its home turf at Katy O. Rady Field for its next two contests, both RMAC match-ups.
• Adams State visits on Thursday at 3 p.m., with New Mexico Highlands making the trip for a Sunday game at 1 p.m.