GUNNISON, Colo.  The first shot of the game proved to be the game-winning goal on a warm and sunny Thursday afternoon at Katy O. Rady Field, as Adams State scored in the seventh minute then held on for a 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's soccer victory over host Western Colorado.

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

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineers had been pressing in their attacking third early on, until an outlet pass up the right touch line proved troublesome.
• Athena Huggins was looking to keep possession for Adams State, chipping her reception of the pass downfield and over a Western defender. Her momentum carried her past the last Mountaineer, forcing Mei Hayashizaki to come out of her goal to charge the loose ball. Huggins got there first, though, and from the right side of the box pushed a shot toward the back post, the ball bouncing three times before sneaking inside the post.
• The Grizzlies tried to build off the goal, getting three shots on Hayashizaki over the next 10 minutes, but the Western goalie was in the right spot each time to keep the deficit at just one.
• The Mountaineers would bounce back to finish the first half with an 8-7 advantage in shots, and owned possession 73 percent of the half but were unable to find the equalizer.
• Second half action saw similar play with Western holding the edge in possession but with Adams creating scoring chances on its few forays into the Western end.
• The Mountaineers finished the game with 13 shots, 4 on goal, and a 67% possession mark, but Adams State would clear away many of the chances that left Western still searching for the equalizer at the final horn.

TURF NOTES

• Hayashizaki started in goal and made five saves before handing things over to Aubree Orosco at the beginning of the second half. Orosco made two saves over the final 45 minutes.
• Western's four shots that made their way through to Grizzlies netminder Ashly Bartley were taken by Laura Pelino, Sarah Connolly, Hadley Collins, and Taylor Bottoms, whose shot on frame came early in the 88th minute and was the last chance for the Mountaineers.

NEXT UP
Western plays host to New Mexico Highlands University on Sunday. Kickoff on Alumnae Appreciation Day at Rady Field is set for 1 p.m.