LAKEWOOD, Colo.  Western Colorado soccer opened its 2025 campaign Thursday afternoon with a non-conference, neutral-site loss, 2-0, to Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Lakewood Memorial Field.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: SWOSU def. Western, 2-0
Records: Western 0-1, SWOSU 1-0
Location: Lakewood Memorial Field, Lakewood, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Play was mostly even from end to end over the initial 15 minutes of action, but a foul in the box provided the Bulldogs with the first real opportunity of the game, a penalty kick for SWOSU late in the 17th minute.
• Julie Anderson, the team's second leading scorer from last season, converted the chance to put the first mark up on the scoreboard.
• Two minutes later the Bulldogs' Braelee Epp centered a pass from the left side to Saoirse Hourigan just inside the top of the box, where Hourigan knocked home a shot inside the right post to double SWOSU's advantage.
• Western would finish the opening 45 minutes trailing by two goals, but equal with the Bulldogs in shots at 10 apiece, and with 4 shots on goal to SWOSU's 6.
• After a combined 20 shots in the first half, opportunities were slightly more limited over second-half action as the attacks combined for 12 shots, 6 by each team, with Western getting 2 shots on goal to the Bulldogs' 1 over those final 45 minutes.
• Sarah Connolly would lead Western in the attacking third, ringing up two of the shots on frame. At the other end, goalkeeper Ashlyn Fitzpatrick finished with five saves.

UP NEXT
Western is back at Lakewood Memorial Field on Saturday for another non-conference, neutral-site contest, at 1 p.m. against Oklahoma Christian University.