The Ashland University women’s soccer team picked up right where they left off. 

Following a successful 2013 campaign that saw the Eagles reach the GLIAC tournament semifinal and win ten games, the team opened up their 2014 season with two wins on the opening weekend. 

The Eagles traveled to Ohio Dominican for a weekend long tournament to kick off their 2014 season. 

First on the docket was matchup with another squad of Eagles, the Screaming Eagles of Southern Indiana. 

Ashland trailed 1-0 to Southern Indiana heading into the second half of play. 

That is when the Ashland offense assumed control of the game. 

Ashland’s top returning scorer, Krista Lewis, corralled Kathleen Demaree’s cross and fired a shot that put on Ashland on the board. 

Lewis’ goal scored just two minutes into the second half pulled Ashland even with Southern Indiana. 

Just three minutes later Ashland took advantage of one of their five corner kicks in the game. 

Freshman Carson Janssen’s corner found the head of sophomore Maddy Smith, who headed the ball past Sothern Indiana keeper Jackie Lohmann to put Ashland in front 2-1. 

In the 53rd minute Ashland grabbed the lead for good. Freshman Morgan Bittengle scored her first collegiate goal in impressive fashion, utilizing the chip shot to find the back of the net.

 Bittengle’s goal doubled the Ashland advantage to 3-1.

Senior Kathleen Demaree capped Ashland’s scoring on the day, slamming home the Eagles’ fourth consecutive goal off the feed from Bittengle. 

Ashland allowed a late Southern Indiana goal, but Ashland’s four unanswered goals in the second half proved to be too much for Southern Indiana, as AU improved to 1-0 on the season thanks to the 4-2 victory.

The Eagles returned to action two days later against the Tusculum College Pioneers. 

Ashland went on the attack early and often, outshooting the Pioneers 10-6. 

In the 40th minute two underclassmen connected to put the Eagles on the board. 

Freshman Brittany Ehlert headed in sophomore Jessica Brown’s corner to break the scoreless tie, and put Ashland in the lead for good. 

Senior keeper Karly Beuck earned her first clean sheet of the 2014 season, preserving her second victory of the season with three saves. 

The undefeated Eagles return home on Friday September 12th, when they take on Alderson-Broaddus under the lights at Ferguson Field. 

The Eagles then open up conference play on September 21st against Ohio Dominican in Ashland.  

The Eagles, who were picked to finish 5th in the GLIAC pre-season poll, are under the direction of second year head coach Danny Krispinsky. 

Krispinsky is an Ashland native whose new system last year delivered a 10-6-2 record and a semifinal appearance in the GLIAC conference tournament. 

This year’s squad has received a boost from the freshman class of 13 new players. 

Three freshman contributed points over the weekend. Morgan Bittengle added three points with a goal and assist, while Brittany Ehlert added a goal and Carson Janssen chipped an assist. 

The 2014 team will be looking to break a ten-year drought for the women’s soccer program. Ashland has not won a GLIAC crown in women’s soccer since 2004. 

2004 is also the year of the last NCAA tournament appearance, something this year’s group of Eagles looks to change. 

Ashland’s next game will be its first home game of the season on Friday, Sept. 12 against Alderson-Broaddus. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.