Zias drop opener

Staff report

DENVER — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s soccer team didn’t get the kind of start it had hoped for on Thursday.

Western State opened a 3-0 lead early in the second half and fended off a late Zias rally for a 3-2 win in the season opener for both teams at Regis College.

The Zias will stay in Denver until Sunday, when they face Regis in a 1 p.m. start.

Bridget Schaefer had a goal and an assist as the Mountaineers built a 2-0 halftime lead. Emily Burton added what turned out to be the winner seven minutes into the second half.

The Zias scored twice in the final 20 minutes, with junior defender Melissa Moxley and senior forward Maurissa Jones doing the honors. It was the first career goal for Moxley and the eighth for Jones.

The goals also ended a long drought for the Zias, who had not tallied since a goal by Jones gave them a 1-1 Lone Star Conference tie against Midwestern State last October.

Thursday

At Denver

Western State 3, ENMU 2

ENMU 0 2 — 2

Western State 2 1 — 3

Scoring summary

First half

WSU — Bridget Schaefer, 24:06

WST — Paige Massey (Schaefer), 35:44

Second half

WSU — Emily Burton (Sadie Stark), 52:01

ENM — Melissa Moxley, 70:16

ENM — Maurissa Jones, 86:43

Shots on goal — Eastern New Mexico 3, Western State 6. Saves — Eastern New Mexico 3 (Xan Ortiz 3), Western State 1 (Meghan Jedrzejewski 1). Corner kicks — Eastern New Mexico 5, Western State 0. Yellow cards — Eastern New Mexico 1 (Moxley), Western State 1 (Tanisha Anderson). Records — Eastern New Mexico 0-1, Western State 1-0. A — 52.