The Capital University women's soccer team opened up the regular season Saturday on the road against nationally ranked No. 5 Carengie Mellon (Pa.).  

Just one season removed from the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Tartans brought a tough test to which the Crusaders were ready to take on. 

Fifteen minutes into the match, both teams recorded seven shots combined in the first twenty five minutes, before the Tartans struck first on a one-touch shot following a cross in the thirty fifth minute. 

Twenty seconds later, the Tartans capitalized on yet another goal to increase their lead to 2-0 before the end of the half. 

"We were terrific with possession in the first 25 minutes," said head coach Chris Kouns. "As you would expect from Carnegie Mellon, they came back at about the 25-minute mark and started to put us under."

Toward the end of the first half, Kouns substituted sophomore Jamie Murray into the game, which would end up being a huge payoff in the opening minute of the second half. 

"Anytime you're down 2-0 at halftime to the No. 5 team in the country, you come out and really take it to them in the second half," Kouns said. 

That they did as the Crusaders came out firing on all cylinders, taking back the momentum and capitalizing on the offensive side of the ball. 

Just fifteen seconds into the second half of play, Murray tallied the Crusaders first goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1 on a pass down the middle from senior Livvy Hein. 

Then in the fifty seventh minute, the Crusaders struck again as freshman Becca Cartmill dished out a tremendous assist to Murray as she netted her second goal to tie the match at two goals apiece. 

The Crusaders continued to attack as they forced the hand of their opposition just two minutes later, as Hein connected on a shot that deflected off of the goal post. 

Both teams traded shots as the Tartans attempted a shot of their own in the sixty fifth minute, but to no avail as senior Maggie Donnellan was there for the save. 

Heading into the final ten minutes of the match, the Crusaders were looking to edge out a late goal to put the team ahead for the first time. 

However, the Tartans struck late midway through the eighty third minute, taking back the lead on a header off a far cross from the right side of the field.  

That goal proved to be the decisive goal of the match, as the Tartans escaped with a narrow victory over an extremely impressive performance by the Crusaders.  

Kouns noted that the game-winning goal occurred on a communication breakdown at the back post. 

"The game-winner came on a miscommunication," Kouns said.  "Our team had just hit the post two different times before that for a potential lead." 

An all around solid, gritty effort led the Crusaders back into the game, as Murray led the team with two goals on three shots, while Cartmill and Hein recorded one assist apiece.  

Also contributing to the attack was freshman Claire Quinn and sophomore Maura Fortino who both recorded a shot in the match.  

"I am so proud of every single player in the game and on the sideline today," Kouns said. "They put in an unbelievable work rate today. It was a tremendous effort, and a great start to the season. " 

The Crusaders' next match is against Penn St.-Behrend on Sept. 1 at 12 p.m. in their final game of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament.