SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster (3-0-2, 1-0-2 RMAC) cruised to a 3-0 win over Western Colorado (2-4-1, 0-2-1 RMAC) on Friday night at Dumke Field, overwhelming the Mountaineers with a 24-6 shot advantage.
Game Breakdown
First Half
Westminster set the tone early, with Laine Romney and Chelsea Hartmann both testing the Western Colorado defense within the first seven minutes. Natalie Cardin had a shot go wide in the 14th minute before finally breaking through three minutes later — in the 17th minute, Cardin buried her first goal of the season off an assist from Addison Gibbons to put the Griffins ahead 1-0. Romney continued to press, firing high in the 19th minute, while Western Colorado's Emily Gesick had the Mountaineers' best look of the half, going wide right in the 21st. Adrianna Pulver drew back-to-back saves from goalkeeper Addison Blick in the 24th and 31st minutes. Abigail Austin went high in the 43rd, and Catherine Carpenter had a shot saved right at the end of the half. Westminster carried a 1-0 lead into the break, having outshot the Mountaineers 9-3.
Second Half
Western Colorado came out with more purpose after halftime, getting a shot blocked from Korinne Hayes and forcing a save from Marin Mackenzie off Adah Minikel-Lacocque, both in the 38th minute. But those proved to be fleeting moments, as Westminster answered right away — Romney doubled the lead in the 50th minute with an unassisted strike to make it 2-0. The Mountaineers continued to generate occasional chances, with Natsuki Murakami's shot blocked in the 52nd minute and Jordan Welsh drawing a save from Mackenzie in the 59th, but Westminster's pressure never relented. Hartmann was heavily involved throughout the half, testing Blick in the 54th and 57th minutes, while Cardin went wide left in the 62nd. Pulver capped the scoring in the 75th minute, finishing unassisted to make it 3-0. Lauren Kindt had one final look for Western Colorado, saved by Mackenzie in the 69th minute, before Westminster closed out the match with a flurry of late chances from Kennedy, Williamson, Feick and Loui. The Griffins outshot the Mountaineers 15-3 in the second half alone.
Marin Mackenzie earned the win in net, making three saves to secure the shutout, while Addison Blick turned aside eight shots in a losing effort for Western Colorado.
Griffin Performances
Chelsea Hartmann led all players with six shots (two on target) in 65 minutes. Natalie Cardin, Laine Romney and Adrianna Pulver each scored a goal, with Cardin also drawing an assist from Gibbons on the opener. Marin Mackenzie earned her third win of the season, stopping three shots to preserve the shutout.
Up Next
Westminster stays at home to host Fort Lewis on Sunday. Kickoff is at 11:30 AM.
