SPEARFISH, S.D. – Mikayla Hernandez recorded two goals and an assist as the Black Hills State University women's soccer team defeated Western Colorado University, 4-2, on Friday evening.

"Obviously it was a great result. It's fun to see us scoring goals," said head coach Mike Greco. "The ball is rolling our way and motivation is really building to continue having success this season and it's really fun to see the ladies embracing it."

The two teams were feeling each other out in the first 15 minutes. However, in the 16th minute, a Mountaineer was fouled in the box and Casey Ober slotted home her penalty kick to give Western (0-8-1, 0-4-1 RMAC) a 1-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets (2-6-1, 2-2-1 RMAC) responded immediately, taking control of the game, and getting off the next four shots. In the 35th minute, Katie Nielson was taken down in the box by a WCU defender, and Hernandez stepped to the penalty spot to tie the game. She coolly put the ball in the back of the net, scoring her first goal of the season. The game would enter halftime with the score tied, 1-1.

The Green and Gold did not wait long to take the lead in the second half. In the 49th minute, BHSU won a corner kick. Hernandez took the corner short, passing it to Abigail Carlson, who fed the ball back to Hernandez at the corner of the box. Hernandez hit a rocket into the upper netting of the far post, giving the Mountaineer goalkeeper no chance for a save, and putting the home team up, 2-1. Just three minutes later, the Yellow Jackets increased their lead. Neilson had the ball down the right side, and crossed the ball directly in front of goal where Ella Goodman was waiting to tap it home.

The home side would not settle for three goals, however. In the 71st minute, after winning another corner kick, Hernandez put her set piece in front of the goal, allowing Brianna Tudor to slot it home for her first career goal, giving BHSU a 4-1 lead. In the 89th minute, Western would get one goal back, but the Yellow Jackets took home the 4-2 lead.

BHSU outshot WCU, 19-11, including an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Hernandez finished with two goals and an assist, totaling eight shots and four shots on goal. Goodman (1 g) and Nielson (1 a) each had three shots, while Marissa Dowlin had two. Dz-Rae Jara (2-3-1) played all 90 minutes in goal for the Yellow Jackets. She allowed two goals while making two saves.

Casey Ober and Missa Webb scored the goals for the Mountaineers. Kaeyla Noble (0-6-1) allowed four goals in 90 minutes while making four saves.

The Green and Gold will next host Colorado Mesa on Sunday, October 6. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 1 p.m.

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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.

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