GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Southwestern women's soccer team started slowly but steadily picked up the tempo as they thumped Texas Lutheran University 5-1 in their home opener on Monday.

Both teams started off a little timid as they cautiously played possession soccer, learning the effect the gusting winds had on the ball. The Bulldogs were first on the board as they took advantage of having the wind to their backs when defender Andrea Camacho booted the ball from midfield and it took an awkward bounce over sophomore keeper Sarah Nonaka's head and into the back of the net. The goal seemed to spur the Pirates to action as first-year Pagie Duggins tied the game at 1-1 less than three minutes later with a shot from 20 yards out that floated over the outstretched arms of TLU's keeper Danielle Parsons.

The game remained tie heading into halftime, but the tie didn't last long into the second half as Southwestern quickly got back to work. Sophomore Ashley Gallegos scored the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute when Jillian Curran received the ball after it was misplayed by a TLU defender and passed it to a wide open Gallegos to put SU up 2-1.

Domination continued for the Pirates as they maintained possession and continued to press forward. Senior defender Madi Stachura served a ball into the box that snuck past the diving keeper and to sophomore Chelsea Letzer (pictured) who was wide open and put the ball away into the open goal, giving SU a 3-1 lead.

Gallegos added another goal, unassisted, in the 86th minute by beating the keeper one-on-one and first-year Caroline Holifield put Southwestern's final goal away when her shot was deflected off a Bulldog defender, catching the keeper off-guard, and found its way into the net.

Southwestern led in every offensive category, taking 19 more shots (25-6) and six more corners (9-2) than Texas Lutheran.

The Pirates return to the road for a tough match-up against American Southwest Conference opponent UT Tyler. Game time is set for 2:00 pm on September 10th.