WHEATON, Ill. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire soccer team kicked off 2011 the right way with a 4-0 victory over DePauw University (Ind.) at the Bob Baptista Invitational at Wheaton College today.
The Blugolds scored two goals in each half. Paige LeGate (So.-Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) opened with a goal just over six minutes into the contest with an assist from Kara Ryan (So.-Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong).
Rachel Nerison (Sr.-Maple Grove, Minn.), last year's leading scorer, gave the Blugolds a two-goal lead when she found the back of the net from eight yards out. Shyla Gilbertson (Jr.-Waunakee, Wis.) assisted on the goal.
In the second half, Nerison pushed the Blugolds' lead to three as she scored less than eight minutes into the half with an assist from Allie Stone (So.-Madison, Wis./Verona Area).
Melissa Leister (Fr.-Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) added the final goal for Eau Claire at 71:24, unassisted.
The Blugolds finished the game outshooting DePauw 11-4. Eau Claire goalie Nina Behrenbrinker (So.-St. Paul, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) made three save as she played the entire game.
The game was just the second in the all-time series against DePauw and the Blugolds now lead 2-0. The first game in the series was in 1994, a contest the Blugolds won 1-0.
Eau Claire will have its hands full tomorrow when it takes on nationally-ranked Wheaton College (Ill.). The Thunder opened the season today with a 3-1 victory over Loras College (Iowa). Saturday's game is set for 4:30 p.m.
-KM-
