Box Score DUBUQUE, Iowa --- Clarke University put a damper on the start to the University of St. Francis' women's soccer season by bookending a pair of goals in the seventh and 81st minutes of an eventual 2-1 victory in the season opener for both teams Thursday night.

The host Pride found the back of the net on its very first shot attempt when Samantha Rodriguez connected at 7:15. Morgan Catchur provided the assist.

Despite outshooting Clarke 11-5 in the opening 45 minutes, the score remained that way for the next 32 minutes until Mia Ocana got the Fighting Saints back even at the 39:26 mark.  Litzy Mendez was credited with the first assist of the campaign.

The chances would flip in the second half with Clarke gaining the 12-6 shot advantage.  The Pride's eighth attempt – a Jamie Albertson shot from Brie Cote – produced the game winner with just over eight minutes remaining in the contest.  The Saints only had one shot after that, which was blocked with just over two minutes to play.

Both teams finished with 17 total shots.  Clarke registered eight of those attempts on goal compared with six for USF.  St. Francis' Krystal Rodriguez and Clarke's Faith Krapfl each recorded five saves.

Notes: Zoe Villont, Sophielena Valles Vargas and Litzy Flores all made their St. Francis' debuts on Thursday night … USF's Andrea Aguirre produced the most shots for either team with her six attempts, one of which was on goal … Ocana accounted for three of the other 11, all of which were on goal … The Saints play an exhibition with neighboring rival Lewis University on Aug. 24.

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