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The Southern Oregon women's soccer team opened up Cascade Conference play today with a 4-0 victory over Northwest Christian at University Field.

The victory improved SOU to 7-2-1 on the season. The Raiders host Corban Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

"We were a little scattered in the beginning, a little over anxious," SOU head coach Jon Clement said. "Once we settled down we started to have good possessions and began to take advantage of those possessions."

The Raiders jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 33 minute mark of the first half on a pretty goal from Denise Powell (Grants Pass, Ore./Hidden Valley) off a crossing pass from Alexis Mahoney (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente).

In the second half, the Raiders put the match away in a hurry.

Mahoney scored on a header at the a minute into the half and then Sydney Paulsen (Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley) survived a collision with the goalkeeper to trickle in the goal for a 3-0 lead. Maddy Scott (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) scored the final goal at the 77 minute mark.

"We did a better job of managing the game when we are ahead," Clement said. "And that's something we are learning to do."

SOU held Northwest Christian to just three shots and only two shots on goal.

Powell, Paulsen, Renay Norman (Philomath, Ore./Philomath), Stephanie Carr (Upland, Calif./Upland), and Sara Switzer (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) all had two shots on goal for the Raiders.