Titans Put Sabres Away In Second Half

All the damage was done within a 23-minute span of the second half as the UW-Oshkosh women's soccer team opened its 2010 season with a 3-1 victory over Marian University on Wednesday (Sept. 1) at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh's Carmen Fiordellisi (Jr. • Howard) broke a scoreless battle when she sailed a shot off a pass from Caitlin Casey (Sr. • Waukesha) into the goal at the 52:28 mark of the match.

UW-Oshkosh (1-0) tallied its next two goals off corner kicks, with Jennifer Nesbitt (Jr. • Sturgeon Bay) heading a serve from Kelsey Spaith (Jr. • Madison) into the net at the 70:13 mark of play and Abby Neumeyer (Fr. • Suamico) booting a serve from Casey into the net at 85:50.

The Sabres avoided a shutout when Kim Kriese scored off a pass from Jade Koeune with 3:06 remaining.

UW-Oshkosh, which was playing Marian University for the first time since the 1999 season, launched 35 shots and nine corner kicks. The Titans had 15 players attempt shots, including Casey who fired seven. UW-Oshkosh's shot count also featured four by Spaith and three each by Jessica Erny (Jr. • Wauwatosa), Nikki Reed (Jr. • Muskego) and Nicole Strieker (So. • Janesville).

Marian University (0-1) was held to just four shots and two corner kicks.

UW-Oshkosh goalkeeper Brittany Walder (Jr. • Waukesha) tallied two saves in the contest and Marian University goalkeeper Tiffany Erdman 12. Erdman had nine of her saves in the second half when the Titans attempted 24 shots.

UW-Oshkosh plays the second of three straight home matches when it hosts Olivet College (Mich.) on Saturday (Sept. 4) at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.