DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Behind four first half goals, the Ursinus College women's soccer team cruised to a 4-0 victory over Delaware Valley on Friday evening from Robert Lipinski Field.
 

With the victory, Ursinus moves to 1-0 on the season and marks the fifth consecutive season in which the Bears have won their season opener dating back to 2019. First-year forward Kaleigh Evans paced the Bears offense scoring twice in her collegiate debut, while classmate Taylor Pezulich and senior defender Tehya Harvey each added their first collegiate scores.
 

After a shot from Delaware Valley at the 2:47-mark, Ursinus responded with six consecutive shots before tallying the first score at the 12:45-mark of the opening half. The Bears maintained possession on the attacking half of the field, before Harvey received a pass near midfield with plenty of space to work. After two touches, Harvey launched a line drive shot from 31-yards away that connected with the bar and bounced into the back of the net. The Bears offense continued the offensive pressure and were awarded with three corner kick opportunities over the next ten minutes of action.
 

At the 28:33-mark, senior netminder Mandy Carideo was tested by the Aggies offense as a shot from within the box was denied by her and the Bears defense. Ursinus responded by increasing their lead to two at the 29:28-mark as Pezulich connected for a goal off an assist from junior Adriana Careless. Towards the edge of the box, Careless won a 50-50 ball by heading a pass towards Pezulich whose left-footed shot snuck past the Aggies goalie for her first collegiate score.
 

Just over a minute later, Evans increased the Bears advantage to three by scoring with 14:03 remaining in the first half. Sophomore Gwyn Krystkiewicz passed to Careless on the attacking half of midfield who found Evans up field 35-yards from goal. Evans made a dribble before making a move past an Aggie defender and sending a lofting shot over the goalie and into the back of the cage. Ursinus added the final goal of the contest with 3:44 remaining in the first half as Evans collected her second score to increase the Bears advantage to four at the halftime break. After a misplay from an Aggie defender, Evans snuck between the defender and the goalie before firing a shot into the back of the net for the score. Ursinus kept the offensive pressure in the second half outshooting Delaware Valley 10-3 en route to the 4-0 shutout victory.
 

Ursinus finished with a 23-5 advantage in shots and closed out with a 16-2 lead in shots on goal. The Bear's offense was credited with six corner kick opportunities compared to just one chance for Delaware Valley. Carideo collected the victory in goal for Ursinus earning a save over 45 minutes of action, while sophomore Alyssa Marraffino tallied a save during the second half.


Ursinus will return to action on Sunday as they host Penn State Berks for their 2024 home opener starting at noon.