SALEM – The Roanoke College women's soccer team won the season opener and the first game of the Roanoke Invitational on Saturday, August 31^st.  The Maroons defeated Birmingham-Southern by the score of 3-0.  The Maroons now have a record of 1-0, while the Panthers sit with a mark of 0-1.
 
The Maroons hold a 2-0 series record against the Panthers, as Roanoke played Birmingham-Southern in the 2011 season opener.  The Maroons were victorious in that game 2-1.  Coach Phil Benne opens his 25^th year as head coach with a win, and is 5-4-1 in season openers over the last 10 years.
 
The first goal of the game came just at the five-minute mark as Ashley Barnes knocked a header past the keeper.  Barnes was assisted by Marlana Barnard in the play, giving Roanoke the 1-0 lead.  Twenty minutes later, Courtney Yoke rebounded a hard shot off of the cross bar, and found the back of the net, increasing Roanoke's advantage to 2-0.
                                                                                                  
In the second half, Barnard got in a goal of her own as the Maroons were able to catch the Birmingham-Southern goalkeeper off guard, scoring the third goal of the game. 
 
Marlana Barnard and Courtney Yoke finished the contest with a team high three shots each, followed by Ashley Barnes and Lauren O'Brien with two.  Carolyn Sarbacher played 81 minutes in goal making four saves.
 
Kelly Craft and Amanda Babbin led the Panthers in shots with two a piece.  Richelle Byrd played all 90 minutes in goal for Birmingham-Southern, facing 13 shots and making four saves.


The Maroons return to action on Sunday, September 1^st as they take on Salisbury University in the final game of the 2013 Roanoke Invitational.  That contest is scheduled for a 2:30 PM start.
 
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