GUNNISON, Colo. On a damp, chilly night at Katy O. Rady Field, host Western Colorado and visiting Colorado State Pueblo opened their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's soccer seasons on Thursday playing to a 1-1 draw.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western ties CSU Pueblo, 1-1
Records: Western 2-2-1 (0-0-1 RMAC), CSU Pueblo 2-3-2 (0-0-1)
Location: Katy O. Rady Field, Gunnison, Colo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountaineers dominated play across the opening 45 minutes of action, accumulating possession at a rate of 69 percent, earning six corner kick opportunities while allowing none, and forging a 14-3 edge in total shots.
- But it wasn't until the 44th minute did Western finally break through.
- On its fourth corner kick of the half, the ball found Natsuki Murakami deep in the box but her shot was blocked by a CSUP defender. It seemed like an eternity but was only a moment or two that the ball sat down with no ThunderWolve clearing it, allowing Jordan Welsh to step into it with a quick shot that rifled the back netting in the right corner.
- Western would get another shot off less than a minute later, earn two more corner chances, and finished the half with yet another shot, one that drifted just right of the post before the horn.
- As in command as they were in the first half, Western's attack faltered over the final 45 minutes as Pueblo out shot the Mountaineers 4-3, earned a 3-1 advantage in corners, and found the equalizer in the 77th minute on a messy, unassisted goal by CSUP's Baylie Reedy on a defensive misplay in the goal box.
- Though the victory slipped away, the Mountaineers did earn an important point within the RMAC standings.
THEY SAID IT
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UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will host ninth-ranked University of Colorado Colorado Springs for a 1 p.m. RMAC matchup on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Rady Field.
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