SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's soccer team opens RMAC play this weekend, when they travel to Western State and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The Yellow Jackets take on the Mountaineers Friday, September 15, at 3 p.m., before playing the Mountain Lions on Sunday, September 17, at noon.

Western State Colorado University (1-2-1), located in Gunnison, Colorado, has opened the season with a nonconference victory over Fort Lewis, 1-0, while losing to Nebraska Kearney (1-0) and Dixie State (3-0). The team has also tied with the Academy of Art, 1-1. Paige Massey and Ingrid Alvarez have each scored for the Mountaineers, while Massey and Jessica Kresl have recorded assists. Emilie Eckhart (1-2) and Katie Simpson-Johnson (0-0-1) have split time in goal for Western State. Eckhart has made 16 saves while allowing four goals, with a 2.00 goals against average. Simpson-Johnson currently has a 0.45 GAA, while making eight saves and allowing one goal.

The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (2-2) opened the season with losses to St. Edward's (1-0) and Dallas Baptist (2-1). Most recently, the Mountain Lions have earned two wins against Seattle Pacific (2-1) and West Texas A&M (2-1). Tarah Patterson and Bailee Jameson have each scored two goals, while Kelsey Lanham has chipped in a goal. Patterson was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week following last week's games. Tori Maydew has tallied two assists, and Caitlin Esterle and Hanna Parado each have recorded one assist. Time in goal has been split between Taylor Proctor (1-2) and Grace Ramsden (1-0). Proctor holds a 1.00 GAA, making seven saves and allowing two goals. Ramsden, with a 1.50 goals against average, has allowed three goals, and made four saves.

Black Hills State University (0-5) most recently fell to Montana State Billings (4-1) and the University of Mary (3-1). Jayden Judy and Katie Nielson have each scored a goal for the Yellow Jackets, while Caitlin Kelly has tallied the lone assist for BHSU. Goalkeeping duties have been split between Therese Wilhelmi (0-1), Raven Johnson (0-2), and Zoe Baldwin (0-2). Wilhelmi has allowed seven goals, while making 11 saves and recording a 4.67 goals against average. Johnson has a 4.51 GAA, making 15 saves and allowing nine goals. Baldwin has a 4.00 goals against average, allowing six goals and making 10 saves.
  Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.