LACEY, Wash. – In what was an even match throughout, Saint Martin's was able to convert a couple of chances and hold off the Western Oregon University women's soccer team for a 2-0 win in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both teams Thursday afternoon at Saints Field in Lacey.

It was a defensive battle with the teams landing only seven combined shots on goal. Overall, there were 23 shot attempts. WOU (1-4, 0-1 GNAC) tallied 11 shots with two on goal, while SMU (2-3, 1-0 GNAC) fired 12 shots and five on goal. WOU held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks, while the teams combined for 18 fouls, 10 whistled on the Saints.

The Wolves generated the first chance of the game in the seventh minute when Liz Parker fired a shot towards the bottom left that was saved. A few minutes later, Hannah Rispler just missed on a chance that went wide right.

Following another chance by Chloe Smith in the 21^st minute, Saint Martin's got their first shot in the 23^rd minute that was saved by Darien Walton.

After a rush by the Wolves, the Saints got on the board. In the 32^nd minute, Maddie Wolfe was able to get her shot just past Walton for the 1-0 lead.

Only one more chance for either team happened the remainder of the half with Smith getting a chance that just missed in the 36^th minute leaving the score 1-0 for the Saints at the break.

Following a first half that witnessed eight combined shots, that would almost be doubled over the final 45 minutes.

Right away in the 46^th minute, SMU generated a shot that was saved by Emily Wheeler in the lower bottom right part of the net. After Jada Foster's shot was blocked resulting in a corner kick, the Saints stormed back getting three straight shots, but none landed on goal.

A Smith shot in the 59^th minute nearly tied the game, but was saved by Sophie Mendoza.

Wheeler came up with another save in the 73^rd minute before the Saints kept rushing to move ahead by two. Following a shot by Rebecca Garrison that was blocked, just seconds later, Elisabeth Cole got her shot through the traffic and into the net for a goal in the 79^th minute to move SMU to a 2-0 lead.

WOU tried to cut into the deficit getting shots by Smith, Parker and Foster, but couldn't find the net with Saint Martin's taking the 2-0 victory.

Smith led the Wolves with four shots, while Foster added three and two from Parker. Walton started in goal and played the first half tallying a save. Wheeler played the second half and came up with two saves.

Cole led the Saints with three shots, while Payton Aselton and Jordyn Jolley had two shots apiece. Mendoza started in goal and played all 90 minutes to record the shutout with two saves.

WOU will remain on the road to face #8 Western Washington in Bellingham this Saturday afternoon starting at 2 p.m.