Women's Soccer

SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University women's soccer team got its 2006 campaign off on the right foot by defeating Villa Julie College, 8-1, Sunday afternoon at the SU Soccer Complex. The Sea Gulls (1-0) scored six second half goals to pull away from Mustangs (0-1) and win their third straight season opener against VJC.

The ball bounced the right way for the Sea Gulls all afternoon, as a VJC own goal at the two minute mark started the scoring and gave Salisbury the early 1-0 advantage. Nearly 25 minutes later, junior Kate Weaver scored her first of two goals on the afternoon on a corner kick assist by freshman Erin Rudy. Weaver's header to the upper right corner of the net gave Salisbury the 2-0 lead as they went into the half.

The Sea Gulls pulled away from Villa Julie in the second half, scoring three goals in a 10 minute span to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Last season's leading point scoring, Dana Passucci scored back-to-back goals at 50th and 56th minute. The first Passucci goal came on an assist by sophomore Kate Del Solar and the second was from transfer Sara Schmidt, who made her debut for the maroon and gold. Weaver then added her second goal of the game, unassisted, at the 59th minute.

It didn't take long for Passucci to find the net again as she capped off her hat trick with an unassisted goal at the 63rd minute to increase Salisbury's lead to six.

Freshman Ally Olewine and junior Erin Casey finished the scoring for Salisbury, netting goals at the 72nd and 79th minute off assists from junior Monica Merkel and freshman Kamer Clarke, respectively.

The single Mustang goal came on a failed clear attempt by Salisbury. Villa Julie's Kim Moxley trapped the failed clear and shot the ball into the back of the goal at the 77th minute.

Salisbury dominated total shots, 31-10, and had five more corner kicks than Villa Julie, 6-1. The combination of Casey Brown and Kristina Lopez made nine saves for the Mustangs in goal.

Senior goalie Samantha Phipps recorded her first win of the season while sophomore Gena Goodson made the lone save for the Gulls in the second half.

The Sea Gulls return to action on Wednesday, September 6 as they travel to Pomona, N.J. to face Richard Stockton College at 7 p.m. Salisbury defeated RSC, last season, 1-0.