From Case Western Reserve University Athletics

The second-ranked Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team finished its opening weekend with a shutout, besting Ohio Northern University 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Kerscher Stadium in Ada, Ohio.

With the win, the Spartans improved to 2-0-0 on the young campaign, while the Polar Bears fell to 0-1-1. The victory also extends Case Western Reserve's regular season non-conference winning streak to 35 matches.

In the 21st minute, the Spartans scored the only goal of the match on the head of junior forward Carolyn Koutures. Sophomore forward Alexis Sassower collected a corner kick that was defected outside the 18-yard box and lobbed a cross into the middle of the field. Koutures was there to head the ball past a diving goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Koutures scored her first goal of the season and the eighth of her career, and Sassower picked up her first career assist.

CWRU entered halftime with a one-goal advantage. The Spartans controlled possession for much of the first 45 minutes, outshooting the Polar Bears 7-1 and recording five shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Maggie Storti did not need to save a shot in the first half.

Case Western Reserve added six shots in the second half, including one on goal, but were unable to double the lead. Ohio Northern increased its attack in the later stages of the match, finishing with six shots and two on target. Storti earned her 19th career shutout, two fewer than the program record of 21 by former Spartan Anna Kennedy from 2008-11.

The teams combined for 19 fouls and seven yellow cards in the physical contest, with one ONU player earning two yellows. Senior forward Helina VanBibber led all field players with three shots, and four Spartans recorded at least two shots in the contest.