NEW CASTLE, Del. - After an evenly played first half resulted in a scoreless tie, Philadelphia University scored three unanswered goals in the second half to defeat the Goldey-Beacom College women's soccer team, 3-0 in both teams' Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference season opener on Wed. afternoon.

In a match played offsite at Kirkwood Soccer Club because of poor field conditions at GBC, the Lightning (0-2) hung tough with the third-ranked team in the conference pre-season coaches' poll for nearly 70 minutes of play - particularly in the first 45 minutes. The shot disparity in the first half was only 7-4, and corner kicks, just 4-3 in favor of the Rams.

Freshman defender Danielle Scott, who had several nice runs on the right side of the field, served a ball into the box for senior Karin Eriksson nearing the 10-minute mark, but Eriksson's strike went wide left. Eriksson took a team-high four shots for the afternoon.

Lightning goalkeeper Kristin Degenhardt made three saves to prevent any PhilaU scoring in the first frame. She would finish with seven saves for the game.

PhilaU took control of the game immediately in the second half and went on to out-shoot GBC 16-4 in the period (23-8 for the game). The Lightning could manage very little offense as the ball was in GBC's half for most of the second period.

Trisha Sileo scored the game's first goal in the 69th minute as she put home a loose ball in the box after a failed clear attempt by a Lightning defender.

About four minutes later, Melissa Copeland's run down the right side resulted in a cross that found the feet of Janine Cascio, who beat Degenhardt to the left side of the net to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.

Another run down the right side of the field, this time by Jessica Stec, resulted in another Cascio goal in the 79th minute to make it 3-0.

The Lightning are back in action on Sat., Sept. 10 as they host CACC foe Bloomfield at 12 p.m.