SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Oct. 16, 2026) – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's soccer team battled Westminster University for 90 minutes Friday evening, but a late second-half goal proved to be the difference as the ThunderWolves suffered a 2-1 setback to the Griffins in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at Dumke Field.
With the loss, CSU Pueblo falls to 3-9-2 overall and 1-6-1 in RMAC play, while Westminster improves to 6-3-2 overall and 4-2-2 in conference action.
The ThunderWolves received their lone goal from Katie Peterson, who scored her first goal of the season in the 39th minute off an assist from Ruthie Landwehr. The goal helped the Pack erase an early deficit and send the two teams into halftime tied at 1-1.
Westminster controlled much of the offensive possession in the opening half, recording eight shots and six corner kicks over the first 45 minutes. The Griffins broke through in the 19th minute when Adrianna Pulver found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season following an assist from Skye Kennedy, giving the home team an early 1-0 advantage.
Despite facing early pressure, CSU Pueblo continued to battle and found the equalizer late in the opening period.
Following a corner kick in the 39th minute, Peterson capitalized on a scoring opportunity, finishing a play set up by Landwehr at the 38:28 mark to even the contest at 1-1. The goal marked Peterson's first of the 2026 campaign and came just over 10 minutes after she entered the match as a substitute.
The two teams entered the halftime break deadlocked at one goal apiece, despite Westminster holding an 8-2 advantage in shots.
Coming out of intermission, the Griffins continued to apply pressure offensively, but the ThunderWolves' defense and goalkeeper Ella Bulfer kept the contest even.
Bulfer turned away a pair of Westminster scoring opportunities in the second half, making saves on shots from Addison Gibbons in the 66th minute and Natalie Cardin less than a minute later. Earlier in the half, Westminster's Xevani Salanoa rattled a shot off the crossbar in the 51st minute.
CSU Pueblo also generated opportunities of its own, including a shot on goal from Madi Reardon in the 54th minute that was turned away by Westminster goalkeeper Marin Mackenzie.
The decisive moment came in the 76th minute when Kennedy scored her second goal of the season at the 75:24 mark, putting Westminster ahead 2-1 with just under 15 minutes remaining in regulation.
The ThunderWolves continued searching for an equalizer in the closing minutes. Abby Menk nearly provided the late heroics in the 89th minute, but her shot toward the bottom-right corner was stopped by Mackenzie, preserving the Griffins' one-goal advantage.
Westminster held on over the final moments to secure the 2-1 conference victory.
For the match, Westminster outshot CSU Pueblo 18-5, including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Griffins also held a 12-2 edge in corner kicks.
Menk led the ThunderWolves offensively with two shots, including one on goal, while Peterson and Reardon each registered one shot on target. Landwehr recorded the Pack's lone assist.
Bulfer played all 90 minutes in goal for CSU Pueblo, finishing with four saves while facing 18 Westminster shots. On the opposite side, Mackenzie collected two saves to earn the victory for the Griffins.
The ThunderWolves will now shift their focus to their next RMAC matchup as they travel to Grand Junction, Colo., on Sunday, Oct. 18, to take on Colorado Mesa University. Kickoff against the Mavericks is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Community Hospital Unity Field, as the Pack looks to bounce back and return to the win column.
