• Box Score

PHILIPPI, W.Va. (Aug. 30) – In its first game with Gene Smith as head coach, the No. 6 California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team posted a 3-0 win at Alderson-Broaddus on Thursday night.

With the victory, the Vulcans open the year at 1-0 and have now won five-straight season-openers. Cal U also extended its undefeated streak in the regular season to 21 games (19-0-2). Meanwhile, defending-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Champion Alderson-Broaddus starts the year at 0-1.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when redshirt sophomore Bethany Smyda (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) scored off a feed from sophomore Erin Hogan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver), who led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in assists last year. The Vulcans added to the lead at the 38:43-mark when sophomore Chelsea Crockett (Gilmanton, N.H./Gilford), the 2011 PSAC Freshman of the Year, tallied a goal off a pass from Hogan. Senior Kayla Fransko (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) later collected her 11th career goal (unassisted) in the 81st minute against the Battlers.

Sophomore Ashley Magruda (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) recorded her second career shutout in the season-opener, finishing with six saves on Thursday. A-B senior Kate Laird made three saves in the loss.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Sept. 1, when they host Charleston (W.Va.) at Phillipsburg Soccer Complex, starting at 1 p.m. Cal U has won all 13 games at the new facility since it opened last September.