Women's Soccer Makes a Statement in Season Opener

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's soccer team opened up the 2014 season with a convincing 5-0 win over Oberlin in the first round of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions (1-0) netted four goals in the second half, including one on a penalty kick, to make a statement in the first game of the year. Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) scored the first two goals for Behrend, while freshman Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) posted a goal and two assists in her first collegiate contest.

Freshman Jordan Oberlander (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) was instrumental in the second half, getting an assist and then scoring her first collegiate goal to secure the win for the Lions.

Bilka picked up where she left off last season with the first goal of the game with a floating shot from the left side in the 14^th minute thanks to a pass from Belack. Her second goal didn't come until the second half, scoring on a penalty kick at the 52:36 minute.

With a 2-0 lead, the Lions added three more quick goals to give themselves a cushion for the final 15 minutes of play. Belack scored her first collegiate goal on a pass from Oberlander down the middle, burying her low shot past Oberlin goalie Kate Frost.

Oberlander put Behrend ahead 4-0 in the 74^th minute. Sam Pace (Erie, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) took the initial shot that was deflected by Frost and Oberlander was in the right place at the right time to knock it in. Less than two minutes later, Amanda Donohue (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) knocked in the ball after it hit the top crossbar by Belack, finishing it with a point-blank shot for the final margin.

Taylor Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) only needed to make one save all game, while Maddie Monte (Beaver, PA/Beaver) made a team save off a Oberlin shot.

The Lions return to action tomorrow against Baldwin Wallace for the final game of the tournament, beginning at 2:30.