Facing a huge test in its season opener, Western Washington University lost 1-0 to nationally ranked Chico State University in a West Regional women's soccer matchup Thursday, Aug. 30, in Chico, Calif.

Scoring the game's only goal for Chico State, ranked No. 4 in the preseason Top 25 poll, was Gail Bassett. She found the net in the 36th minute on a volley of a headed corner kick with Danielle Leiva and Jennie Barto receiving assists.

Chico State outshot WWU, 12-3. Vikings' goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs made five saves.

"We've got a good team, so we purposely wanted to have a big test," WWU coach Travis Connell said in a news release. "But we were unfortunate enough not to get a goal, especially in the second half when we had a couple of great chances to equalize. But sometimes it goes that way and we did learn a lot about ourselves. The goal was a mistake on our part on a free kick that left a player open and she scored."

WWU next travels to Notre Dame de Namur University for a non-conference game Saturday (1:30 p.m.).