Photo: Radley Muller/WWU

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Emma Peterson's late strike gave #7 Colorado School of Mines hope, but #15 Western Washington hung on for a 2-1 win in a hard-fought non-conference match on Wednesday.

The Vikings (5-2-0) received an early goal from Gabriela Pelogi and a second-half penalty kick by Dayana Diaz, snapping the Orediggers' scoreless start to the season. Both teams enjoyed periods of possession and plenty of goal-scoring chances, with Mines outshooting WWU 13-11.

Mines opened the game with the better possession, including an early corner and Kaylee Kennedy's look at goal in the 13th minute, but Pelogi scored against the run of play in the 15th minute, getting behind the defense to finish far post for the lead. Mines looked for an equalizer in the first half with a breakaway chance for Nicole LaTourette stopped and Dominique Rivera's set piece deflected past the post, but WWU held a 1-0 lead at the break.

The Vikings continued to build momentum in the second half but couldn't solve the Mines defense again until the 75th minute, when a penalty in the box set them up with a spot kick. There was nothing Shannon Mooney could do about the take as Diaz pounded the ball off the crossbar and down over the line for the 2-0 lead. That set off a furious 15 minutes for Mines that resulted in a spectacular first collegiate goal by Peterson - a dropping 22-yard shot into goal in the 83rd minute - but a second goal never game despite a late shot by LaTourette that was saved at the post.

NOTABLES
- It was the first regular-season meeting between the two NCAA Division II powers. WWU beat Mines in their only other meeting, the 2016 NCAA quarterfinals, at Stermole Stadium.
- Pelogi's goal ended an exceptional streak of 574:24 scoreless minutes for Shannon Mooney and the Mines defense, the second longest streak in program history and the longest of Mooney's career. It was the first time in nine regular-season games that Mines surrendered a goal.
- Peterson is the sixth different Oredigger to score this season.
- Peyton Sanders was Mines' most dangerous offensive attacker with four shots, including three on goal, while Jennifer Kendall had three.
- Mooney had two saves, including a diving fingertip stop on Pelogi in the 22nd minute and breakaway denial of Liv Larson in the second half. Natalie Dierickx stopped six in the win for WWU.
- Mines held a 4-3 corner kick edge.
- At 1,064 miles, the trip to Bellingham was the longest in Mines women's soccer history. It was Mines' first time playing in the state of Washington. The Orediggers are in the midst of a two-week, five-game, 3,800+ mile road trip.

NEXT UP
Mines returns to Colorado and RMAC play to visit CSU-Pueblo on Friday at 7 p.m.