The Fresno State women’s soccer team opened conference play at home on Sunday, losing to the Colorado College Tigers, 1-0.

It’s been a tough season already for the ‘Dogs, who have an overall record of 1-7-2, with their only win coming against Montana University in the second game of the season.

The Bulldogs were hoping to gain some momentum after breaking a five-game losing streak in a 1-1 tie at Air Force. The Tigers, however, were looking to get a victory away from home and not leave their trip west empty-handed.

In the intense midday heat, both teams started slowly, recording just a few shots on target in the first 15 minutes.

Throughout the majority of the first half, most of the plays were in the middle of the field with both teams swapping possession of the ball. Colorado College had a few more shots on goal than the Bulldogs, but nothing came of it.

The scoring finally opened up in the 38th minute, when the Tigers’ Jacqui Hand scored a header from inside the box.

For the remainder of the first half, the Bulldogs tried to put pressure on the Tigers, but the pressure would prove useless and the score at halftime would read 1-0 in favor of the Tigers.

For the first few minutes of the second half, there was a serious back and forth with both teams having good shots on target.

Eventually, the heat seemed to affect the ‘Dogs more than Colorado College, because midway through the second half they seemed to run out of gas.

The Tigers controlled the rest of the match and managed to be a real headache for the Bulldogs’ defense. The pressure was so much that the Bulldog defense committed a flagrant handball in the area, causing a penalty to be called.

The Tigers’ Lauren Milliet took the penalty shot but was stopped by ‘Dogs’ goalkeeper Nichole Theroux. Theroux had several other saves in the last minutes, allowing only the one goal in the game.

“I’m pleased with the effort, because it was a difficult travel weekend where Colorado College was already here and training while we were still traveling,” head coach Brian Zwaschka said. “I know that we are good enough to play with [Colorado College], but on the day, they probably deserved the win.”

The Bulldogs will have to try and get back on the winning track next home game against the New Mexico Lobos.

The Lobos have won three of their last four matches, but lost their last game at home against Wyoming on Sept. 23.

Scoring goals has been a major issue this season for the team, with just seven through the team’s 10 games, including being shut out four times.

The ‘Dogs sit in eleventh out of 12 in the Mountain West conference through two games, with the University of Nevada the only team below them.