GUNNISON, Colo.  A nearly bone-chilling Sunday afternoon at Katy O. Rady Field saw Western Colorado drop a 3-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's soccer decision to visiting and 22nd-ranked Colorado Mesa University.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Colorado Mesa def. Western Colorado, 3-0
Records: Western 3-7-3 overall (2-3-2 RMAC), Mesa 9-1-2 (7-0-0)
Location: Katy O. Rady Field, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western fell behind early, Mesa converting a set piece in the early seconds of the fourth minute. CMU's Kylie Wells sent a corner kick past the far post where Ally Wachtel volleyed a shot back across into the bottom corner for a 1-0 advantage.
• The Mountaineers earned a free kick in the 12th minute creating an equalizing opportunity, but Natsuki Murakami wasn't able to pull her shot down under the crossbar from 25 yards out.
• The deficit grew in the 22nd when the Mavericks'  Sauvelyne Randel was fouled in the box on a breakaway, and then converted the penalty kick chance for a 2-0 CMU lead.
• The Mountaineers came out after the halftime break and began to generate more possession than in the opening 45 minutes of action. Twice they had dangerous possessions deep in the box, but Mesa defenders were able to clear away those chances before Western could finish off the opportunities.
• Mesa iced the game in the 73rd, as Randel sent a perfect through ball to a streaking Kylie Wells who split defenders and raced 40 yards before pushing a shot into the bottom left corner past charging goalkeeper Ashlyn Fitzpatrick.

TURF NOTES

• Western put a high percentage of its total number of shots on frame in the contest, 5 of 8, forcing Mavs netminder Keely Wieczorek into action to maintain her clean sheet.
• Fitzpatrick would come away with eight saves in the game, doing her part in trying to keep the Mountaineers within striking distance of Mesa.
• Abby Raio and Murakami each put two shots on goal in the loss.

UP NEXT
Western plays host to Regis University on Friday at 3 p.m., then finish off the weekend against Black Hills State on Sunday at 11 a.m., the Mountaineers' final home contest of the season and the program's Senior Game.