DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team hits the road for the first time in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play this week, taking on Colorado Mesa University and Westminster University.

The Skyhawks (4-1-2, 1-1 RMAC) open the weekend on Friday against Colorado Mesa at 7 p.m. at Community Hospital Unity Field in Grand Junction. Fort Lewis will then make the trip to Salt Lake City for an 11 a.m. matchup with Westminster on Sunday at Dumke Field.

Last Time Out

Fort Lewis split a challenging opening weekend of conference play, picking up a 2-0 win over then-No. 9 UCCS before suffering its first loss of the season, 3-1, against Colorado School of Mines.

The Skyhawks opened RMAC play in Farmington, New Mexico, where a pair of first-half goals and another strong defensive performance lifted the team to its highest-ranked win since defeating No. 4 West Texas A&M in 2010. Freshman Emma Gurule opened the scoring just over four minutes into the match before assisting on Maleia Dayao's first collegiate goal in the 26th minute.

Sophomore goalkeeper Trinity Lujan and the Fort Lewis defense preserved the clean sheet despite UCCS producing 16 shots. The shutout was the fourth consecutive clean sheet for the Skyhawks and improved the team to 4-0-2.

Fort Lewis returned to Dirks Field on Sunday and suffered its first setback of the year in a 3-1 loss to Mines. The Orediggers scored three times in the opening half, while Gurule provided the lone Skyhawks goal in the 31st minute. The freshman forced a turnover near the top of the box before sending a shot off the upper-left post and into the net for her fifth goal of the season.

Lujan finished the match with a season-high eight saves. Mines held a 23-12 advantage in shots and an 11-5 edge in shots on goal, but Fort Lewis held the Orediggers scoreless over the final 45 minutes.

Around the RMAC

The conference standings remain crowded after the opening weekend of league play. Black Hills State, Regis and Colorado Mesa each sit at 2-0 with six points, while Colorado School of Mines is 1-0 with three points. Fort Lewis and UCCS follow at 1-1 with three points apiece.

Westminster is one of two unbeaten teams remaining overall, joining Black Hills State. The Griffins sit at 2-0-2 overall and 0-0-2 in conference play after opening the RMAC schedule with consecutive scoreless draws.

Colorado Mesa enters the weekend riding a four-match winning streak after dropping its first two matches of the season. The Mavericks are one of three teams to take all six possible points from the opening weekend of RMAC competition.

Fort Lewis enters the week fifth in the conference standings with three points. The Skyhawks' 4-1-2 overall record gives them a .714 winning percentage through seven matches.

Inside the Numbers

Fort Lewis has outscored its opponents 9-5 through seven matches while posting four shutouts. The Skyhawks have been particularly strong defensively, allowing multiple goals just once this season.

Gurule continues to make an immediate impact in her freshman season. The forward leads Fort Lewis with five goals after scoring in both matches last week, including the opening goal in the 2-0 upset of UCCS. She also assisted on Dayao's goal against the Mountain Lions.

Lujan has played every minute in goal for Fort Lewis this season. The sophomore recorded five saves in the shutout of UCCS before establishing a season high with eight saves against Mines, giving her 13 saves across the opening weekend of conference play.

The Skyhawks have also received offensive contributions from sophomore Addyson Carpentier, who has two goals on the year, while Dayao and freshman Kadyn Begay have each found the back of the net once. Senior Jenna Salazar has continued to create opportunities in the attacking third and picked up an assist on Dayao's goal against UCCS.

Scouting Colorado Mesa

Colorado Mesa enters Friday's match at 4-2 overall and 2-0 in RMAC play. After opening the season with losses to Midwestern State and Texas Woman's, the Mavericks have rattled off four consecutive wins, all by shutout.

The Mavericks picked up road wins over Colorado Christian and MSU Denver to open conference play. Colorado Mesa earned a 1-0 win over the Cougars before shutting out the Roadrunners 2-0 on Sunday.

Colorado Mesa turned in a dominant defensive effort against MSU Denver, holding the Roadrunners without a shot while producing 10 attempts of its own. Angelina Kazinec scored the eventual game-winner before Olivia Bariao-Arce added an insurance goal in the 71st minute.

Defense has been the story of the Mavericks' four-match winning streak. Colorado Mesa has not conceded a goal since Sept. 5 and has posted four consecutive shutouts. Keely Wieczorek handled both conference matches in goal last week, making six saves without allowing a goal.

Parker Mairs leads the Mavericks with two goals this season, while Ellie Duncan, Jenelle Arenibas, Kazinec and Bariao-Arce have each scored once. Mairs has also contributed an assist.

Friday's match will mark Colorado Mesa's home opener after playing each of its first six contests away from Grand Junction.

Scouting Westminster

Westminster enters the week unbeaten at 2-0-2 overall and 0-0-2 in RMAC play. The Griffins have yet to allow a goal this season, outscoring opponents 5-0 through four matches.

Westminster opened the year with a 4-0 win over Cal State East Bay before earning a 1-0 road victory over Northwest Nazarene. The Griffins have yet to find the net in conference play, battling MSU Denver and Colorado Christian to consecutive scoreless draws last weekend.

The Griffins controlled much of their RMAC opener against MSU Denver, holding a 10-3 advantage in shots and 55 percent of possession. Westminster held the Roadrunners without a shot in the first half but was unable to break through offensively in the scoreless result.

Westminster faced increased pressure two days later against Colorado Christian. The Cougars held a 14-6 advantage in shots, including a 10-3 edge in the second half, but goalkeeper Marin Mackenzie made three saves to secure another clean sheet.

Mackenzie has been perfect between the posts this season, recording four consecutive shutouts. Offensively, Natalie Cardin led Westminster with three shots against Colorado Christian, while Skye Kennedy and Chelsea Hartmann each recorded three attempts in the draw with MSU Denver.

Before hosting Fort Lewis, Westminster will welcome Western Colorado to Dumke Field on Friday at 6 p.m.

Up Next

Following the weekend road trip, Fort Lewis continues its four-match road stretch with a trip to South Dakota. The Skyhawks take on Black Hills State University on Friday, Oct. 2, before facing South Dakota Mines on Sunday, Oct. 4.