GUNNISON, Colo. -- The Regis University women's soccer team fell to Western Colorado University 2-3 in a Friday afternoon match-up. The Rangers move to 5-8-2 (4-4-1 RMAC), while the Mountaineers advance to 5-7-3 (3-3-2 RMAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mountaineers kicked off the scoring early, finding the back of the net in the sixth minute on a goal by Natsuki Murakami, the only score in the first half.
Grace Glover anchored the Rangers in net for the first half, allowing one goal and recording one save.
The visiting Rangers got to work quickly in the second half, tying the game in only 24 seconds. Regis's
Madeline Gardner scored an unassisted goal at 45:24, her sixth goal of the season.
Western Colorado responded quickly, pulling back into the lead with an assisted goal in the 51st minute. Continuing the scoring flurry, the Rangers answered less than four minutes later as
Natalie Bunch scored an unassisted goal at 54:06, tying the match at 2-2. The goal was Bunch's fifth of the season.
Kayla Arucan took over in net for the Rangers in the second half. Despite their momentum at the beginning of the second half, the Rangers conceded the final goal of the game to Western Colorado's Jordan Welsh in the 68th minute. The assisted goal bumped Western Colorado ahead 3-2, the final score of the match.
The Rangers maintain a balanced conference record of 4-4-1 heading into the final three matches of the regular season. They currently rank fourth of the 13 women's soccer teams in the RMAC, the top eight of which earn a playoff berth.
GAME NOTES
Gardner and Bunch are both in the RMAC's top ten individual goal scorers, slotting on a fourth and eighth respectively after recording a goal apiece in the match.
UP NEXT
The Rangers conclude their road trip out West on Sunday, Oct. 27 with a 1:00 p.m. matchup at Fort Lewis University (Colo.), before heading into the final two games of the regular season next week
