DALLAS, Pa. – A pair of first-half goals left the Ursinus College women's soccer team chasing host Misericordia all the way to a 2-0 final in the season opener for both schools Thursday.
Alex Gallagher accounted for both goals for the Cougars, who brought back nine starters from a squad that made its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago and came in as the preseason MAC Freedom favorite. Gallagher, last year's Freedom Co-Offensive Player of the Year, opened the scoring with a penalty kick goal in the 13th minute and assisted on Jordyn Martini's 33rd-minute marker, and Alyssa Pojero turned away all six shots the Bears put on frame as Misericordia took the first meeting between the programs.
Senior Erin Farrell and sophomore Mackenzie Groff managed three shots apiece for Ursinus, which suffered a 17-8 deficit in that category. Senior Courtney Sullivan made five saves as the Bears were dealt their first loss in a season opener in four years.
Farrell put the Cougars on notice right away, forcing Pojero to make a stop just over a minute after kick-off. An extended stretch of Misericordia pressure culminated in a penalty kick opportunity when Ursinus was called for a push in the box and Gallagher cashed in, staking the home side to an early advantage. Gallagher's feed to Martini, a cross from the right side that Martini volleyed in at the near post, doubled the margin at the 32:13 mark, and the Bears never recovered.
The Bears look to bounce back on Wednesday, September 7, when they travel to Arcadia for a non-conference battle beginning at 7:00 p.m. It's the second of five consecutive road games to start the season for Ursinus, which plays its first home game on Saturday, September 17 against Gettysburg.