DENTON, Texas (Sept. 1, 2017) - Texas Woman's University soccer took down its highest ranked opponent in the program's 15-year history with a 1-0 victory over sixth-ranked Colorado School of Mines Friday evening at TWU Soccer Field in the 2017 season opener for both teams.
 
The lone goal of the game came in the third minute on a header by Chelsea Martin on an assist by Jazmine Navarro from a corner kick.
 
Head Coach Babak Abouzar stated, "We caught them off guard in the first few minutes and scored a great goal. We defended well against a team who is consistently on the national stage and made things difficult for them and it paid off. Credit to our team for having an all-in mentality."
 
The defense of the Pioneers (1-0) allowed just two shots on goal by the Orediggers (0-1). Colorado Mines outshot TWU, 10 to eight, with seven Orediggers each tallying an attempt. Martin and Haley Ward each compiled three tries for the Pioneers, while Megan Coppedge recorded two. Maddie Vickroy kept a clean slate in her Pioneer goalie debut with a pair of saves.
 
Martin's goal came after her first try was blocked just minutes earlier. Coppedge took two deep shots with the first saved by CSM goalie Shannon Mooney and the second sailing a bit high. The Orediggers managed just two of their 10 shots in the first half.
 
Colorado Mines went on the offensive 10 minutes into the second half by sending in five tries within 15 minutes, two of which were blocked, two that were high and the last going wide left.
 
Vickroy made a diving save with 12 minutes to play, and two more Oredigger attempts were off with under 10 to play to hand the Pioneers a 1-0 start to the season.
 
The Pioneers host Regis Sunday at 7 p.m. on TWU Soccer Field.