WINDSOR, Ont. - Second-year centre Cordell James scored his first goal of the season in a 4-2 loss as the Western men's hockey team fell in their first game of the year to the Windsor Lancers in Windsor, Ont. 

With the loss, the Mustangs will drop to 0-1 to begin the new season, while Windsor's 1-0 record puts them at the top of the OUA West standings.

James, who totaled 11 goals on the season last year, also assisted Western's opening goal of the game in the first period, helping to get teammate Zach Core on the board early for the purple and white.

Windsor struck early to begin the game, showing no early-season rust and finding the back of the net midway through the opening frame to give the Lancers the 1-0 lead. However, Core, who is also beginning his second year in the program alongside James, answered less than a minute later with a goal of his own as Western went into the second period deadlocked at 1-1.

The Mustangs fended off a pair of Lancer power plays early in the second frame, but the persistent attack from Windsor would eventually hand them a goal midway through the period as they retook the lead heading into the third period.

Western failed to convert on power plays of their own through the opening minutes of the third period, giving Windsor the opportunity to extend their lead to 3-1 just four minutes into the final frame. James eventually brought the purple and white within a single goal late in the period, but an empty net goal from the Lancers in the final minute of action ultimately put the Mustangs away with a 4-2 loss.

The Mustangs will be back in action tomorrow, Thursday, October 4, where they will continue their road trip to take on the Waterloo Warriors in Waterloo, Ont. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 P.M. EST.