GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado and visiting Westminster University battled to a 1-1 draw Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference soccer action, fighting through a late 30-minute lightning delay and steady rain over the final four minutes of action at Katy O. Rady Field.

The tie broke a six-game win streak by Westminster against the Mountaineers.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western ties Westminster, 1-1
Records: Western 0-8-2 overall (0-1-2 RMAC), Westminster 3-0-4 (0-0-3)
Location: Katy O. Rady Field, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A stunning sunset at the beginning of the game set up the night for the Mountaineers and Griffins.
• And the first shot of the game was the first to light up the scoreboard as Western's Sarah Connolly put the Mountaineer up by a goal in the game's 13th minute.
• Western drove possession down into the right corner where Tawny Roberts came out with the ball and dribbled toward the top of the penalty box.
• Roberts flicked a pass to the top of the half-arc where Connolly collected it, spun to her right and rocketed a shot past her defender into the left side of the goal, only the second goal scored on the Griffins all season.
• The scoreboard would stay stagnate for the rest of the opening half and much of the second, but the action was far from lifeless as both teams played aggressively, the game eventually ending with 17 fouls whistled, 1 yellow card presented, and many play on calls allowing continuation of play.
• Westminster desperately searched for the equalizer as the game ticked down with under 10 minutes to play, and its prayers were finally answered in the 82nd minute when a cross into the box deflected off a Western defender and found its way into the netting for a Western own goal that tied the game.
• Both teams pushed aggressively toward their attacking thirds after the tying marker, only to be halted by lightning in the area with 3 minutes, 11 seconds left to play. Just before the alert, each team had one shot on frame but each was kept from the back of the goal by the respective goalkeepers.
• The threat cleared in the 30 minute wait time, but the rain had arrived by the time the teams came back from their respective locker rooms for a quick warmup. Neither team would mount a threat over those final few minutes, resulting in a draw that both teams may have thought deserved a better outcome.

THEY SAID IT


TURF NOTES

• Westminster would double up Western in total number of shots, 12-6, and would also strike the advantage in shots on goal, 7-4.
• Mountaineer goalie Ashlyn Fitzpatrick had a stellar outing in not allowing a Griffins shot to get past her, finishing with six saves.

UP NEXT
Western travels to Grand Junction, Colo., for its next game, an RMAC contest Sunday at 1 p.m. against host and 22nd ranked Colorado Mesa University.