RICHMOND, Ind. – The Spalding U women's soccer team opened the 2015 campaign with a 3-0, shutout victory, against Earlham College at Matlack Field on Wednesday night, improving to 1-0, while Earlham fell to 0-1.
 
Spalding opens the season with a victory for the first time since winning their first match of the season in 2012 against Knox College, 4-1, on the road.
 
The Earlham Quakers attempted 10 of their 11 shots in the first half, five of which were on goal, and all saved by goalkeeper Kelsey Kaiser. The Golden Eagles attempted eight shots in the first half but none of them were able to find the back of the net and the game went to halftime, tied 0-0.
 
The Golden Eagles came out aggressively in the second half, keeping possession of the ball for most of the half. Freshman midfielder Lauren Locke slotted the first goal of the season blasting a shot in off the crossbar, giving Spalding the 1-0 lead.
 
Spalding cracked the scoreboard again in the 67th minute when freshman forward Paige Snepp took a through ball from Baylee Tabler just outside the 18-yard box and first a shot past the Quaker keeper to take a 2-0 lead.
 
With less than 10 minutes to go in regulation time, sophomore transfer midfielder Madison Ratchford was able to escape the keeper and put the third and final goal into the net, securing the victory for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles will be back in action on the road Saturday, September 5 against Illinois College at 6:00 P.M. EST.