SPRING ARBOR, Mich. -- Point Park University women's soccer opened its season with a 3-0 loss on the road against NAIA No. 2-ranked Spring Arbor (Mich.) Friday at the Cougar Classic.
Point Park (0-1) is used to seeing tough opponents early in the season, starting out 2-5-2 last year after facing several ranked teams early on.
The Cougars (2-0), runners up in the 2016 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship, started strong against the Pioneers, scoring first in the 18th minute off a corner kick.
"When you play the No. 2 team in the country you are going to spend time defending, and I thought we defended fairly well," head coach Maggie Kuhn said. "We didn't possess consistently and ended up chasing a bit."
Spring Arbor lead, 2-0, heading into the half. Junior Bethany Balcer scored both goals for the Cougars, and scored again in the 62nd minute to make the score, 3-0.
The Cougars out-shot the Pioneers, 26-6, and lead corner kicks 8-1.
Ashtyn Webb (SO/London, Ohio) started in goal for the Pioneers, stopping four shots.
"Spring Arbor was very good, but we didn't give up," Kuhn said. "That tenacity is a trait we can build on the rest of the season."
Point Park returns to the pitch tomorrow to face Mount Vernon Nazarene University for day two of the Cougar Classic at Spring Arbor. Game time begins at 5 p.m. and live video is available at youtube.com/SAUcougarathletics.
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