COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's soccer team closed out the two-day Fort Rapids Invitational Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Shenandoah (Va.) in a non-conference contest at Bernlohr Stadium.

"We are very pleased that we opened up the home portion of our schedule with two wins," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "The contest today against Shenandoah was a bit more challenging mentally and emotionally than it was physically for us and that posed some interesting issues for us to deal with."

Senior forward Hilary Ells (Grandview Heights, Ohio) tallied her third goal of the season in the 13th minute to provide all the Crusaders (2-1-1 overall) would need in the contest.

Ells, who did not play due to injury in 2012, sent a strike from 20 yards out into the upper left corner and into the back of the net.

Sophomore forward Jamie Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla.) added a pair of late goals, her third and team-leading fourth of the campaign, to pad the Capital lead. On her first strike in the 80th minute, Murray took a great pass from sophomore midfielder Maura Fortino (Philadelphia, Pa.) and beat the keeper to the ball, finishing in an empty net.

Murray posted her second from Fortino just moments later, carrying the ball into the box following Fortino's pass and sending a shot past the keeper.

"I am extremely excited that the work we've been putting into the attacking side of the game has been reaping the benefits," Kouns said. "So far we've scored 10 goals in four games and that puts our attack light years ahead of where it was last year. We have also had various people step up to put the ball in the net when their name is called. Last year, that was a challenge for us."

Senior Maggie Donnellan (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Kim Leitch (Rocky River, Ohio) combined for the shutout. Donnellan tallied 10 saves against a high volume of shots to earn her second win of the year.

A total of 30 Capital players saw action in the affair.

"I was excited to see some of our bench players step in and give us quality minutes when we were a bit frantic, and thought that (sophomore) Morgan Austin and (freshman) Kylie Tritt did a very sound job in the back for us spelling (sophomores) Ashleigh Schmittle and Mariah Richards," Kouns said.

The Crusaders finished with 21 shots, including 15 on goal, while the Hornets (2-3) totaled 14, with 10 on goal.

As part of the day's festivities, the Crusaders welcomed students and teachers from nearby Cassingham Elementary School, an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. The team will work with students in every classroom at Cassingham this year. Cassingham principal Jeannine Hetzler is a Capital graduate.

The Crusaders visit Thomas More on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Crestview Hills, Ky.

"Now that the attack is clicking we need to begin to focus on tightening up the defending communication and organization of the team," Kouns said. "That combination will be what helps us challenge for an OAC title and ultimately an NCAA berth, which we hope will be the end product of our journey."