DENTON, Texas (Sept. 3) – TWU junior forward Gaby Larson scored the only goal of the game in the second half and helped the Pioneers capture a 1-0 win over visiting Colorado Mesa in the 2015 season opener.

In the first half the Pioneers dominated on offense and outshot CMU, 9-4, but could not find the net.  TWU took six of its nine shots in the final 15 minutes including three on goal.

In the second half the Mavericks regrouped and put the pressure on TWU, finding the net in the 49th minute but an offside erased the goal.  The Pioneers also found the net in the 58th minutes but the goal was taken off the scoreboard by an offside.

Four minutes later, Larson gave TWU a 1-0 lead with the Pioneers' first goal of the 2015 season at 61:05 mark.  She took a cross from senior Natalia Diaz and bounced it over the diving Mavericks' goalie in front of the net.

Colorado Mesa put the pressure on the Pioneers throughout the second half, hitting the crossbar twice but could not get the equalizer.  The Mavericks finished second half outshooting TWU, 7-4.

"Our offense did really well especially in the first half," said TWU head coach Babak Abouzar.  "We had quite a few chances in the first 45 minutes but didn't put them away.  Unfortunately for us we didn't have those chances in the second half but you need to capitalize whichever ones you get.  They started the second half on fire and sent so many numbers up.  It created some space for us and we were able to counter, move the ball up and score."

The Pioneers finished the game with a 13-9 advantage in shots and 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.  TWU also had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Senior goalkeeper Ariana Morrison played all 90 minutes in the net and recorded four saves for the shutout.  Juniors Nancy Chaves and Rachel Peters led the on offense with three shots each.

The Pioneers will return to action when they travel to Wichita Falls, TX, to face Fort Lewis on Saturday, Sept. 5 on a neutral site.  Both teams will play each other at 11:00 a.m. at MSU Soccer Field on the campus of Midwestern State.