COLUMBUS, Ohio – Paced by two goals from sophomore Lauren Pratt (West Chester, Ohio), the Ohio Dominican women's soccer team opened conference play on Friday evening with a decisive 3-1 victory over the visiting Bulldogs of Ferris State.

The Panthers are now 4-1-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference. The Bulldogs fell to 1-3 and 0-1 in the GLIAC.

The Panther defense held the Bulldogs to just seven shots, six of which were on goal and got plenty of help though in the first half, as Pratt knocked in her second goal of the season. In the 11th minute, after going one on one with the keeper, Pratt zipped the ball to the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Just over eight minutes later, Pratt once again found the back of the net, this time with a little help from freshman Kelly Johnson (Berea, Ohio), who played a nice ball to the 10 yard line inside the box for Pratt's second goal of the game, and third of the season.

However, the Bulldogs, Nichole Boehnke cut the Panther lead to 2-1 after connecting for a goal in the box at the 32:53 mark.

ODU's defense held strong the rest of the half, and took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

After the break, the Panthers tightened up their defense, allowing Ferris State just three shots in the entire second half.

Junior Jordan Mazzi (Galena, Ohio) scored an insurance goal to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead at the 55:44 mark, after connecting on a rebounded shot. Mazzi has now scored a goal in each of her last four games.

Junior keeper Laura Clark (Lapeer, Mich.) collected her fourth win of the season while making six saves on the night.

Ohio Dominican faces its biggest challenge on Sunday, welcoming No. 1 Grand Valley to Panther Field for a 1 p.m. match. Fans are encouraged to wear gold in support of the Panthers.

Contact: Sarah Twiggs
twiggss@ohiodominican.edu