Marietta, GA- The Patriots women's soccer team opened conference play Tuesday night with a 5-0 victory over Life Running Eagles. Four Patriots got involved in the scoring action including Alba Lorca, Naira Lopez, Amy Anderson, and Elsie Kibler. With the win, Cumberlands improves to 6-1-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

From the opening kickoff the Patriots flexed their offensive power, recording shots from Lopez, Hannah Truckenmiller, and Emily Willoughby in the first ten minutes. Lorca got the scoring started for UC, receiving a pass from Anihoa Camara to put the ball into the back of the net to give UC a 1-0 lead in the 12'. UC struck again ten minutes later as Camara looked to Lopez, launching a rocket outside the box and into the upper-left corner of the goal extending Cumberlands lead to 2-0 over the Running Eagles. Later in the first half Lopez made it a 3-0 game when she placed a pass from Shara Randez past Life's goalie, with 4:30 remaining. In the final seconds of the first half, Lorca connected with Anderson for a goal to extend UC's lead to 4-0 heading into halftime.

The Running Eagles looked to make a comeback in the second half with their best scoring opportunity coming from a corner kick in the 57'. Zoe Hagan crossed the ball towards the goal, but Patriots goalie Nicole Panis met the ball in the air to keep the Running Eagles off the scoreboard. With 24:13 remaining in the second half, Micha Harris passed the ball back to Kibler outside the box where she sent the ball 30 yards into the back of the net, making it 5-0 Patriots. Cumberlands backline held Life to three shots, none of which were on frame, over the final 20 minutes to maintain the shutout victory.

The win marks the fifth shutout of the season and Cumberlands first shutout in a conference opener since September 29, 2011 when the Patriots defeated St. Catharine 1-0. Lopez led the way for UC recording her first multi-goal game of her career.

UC returns to action Wednesday, October 9, when they come home to host Georgetown College in their second conference match. Kickoff is set for 5:00 pm. Live video will be available here, while live stats will be available here.

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