ASHLAND – An opportunistic Southern Oregon women's soccer team dealt Hope International (Calif.) its first loss and stayed perfect with a 2-0 victory Thursday afternoon at Raider Stadium's Laurel Field.

SOU's goal scorers, attackers Frida Vargas and Abby McKean, generated the offense by putting pressure on the Royals' back line. Vargas struck first in the 33rd minute, when she jumped in front of a defender's pass and weaved into a 15-yard, right-to-left attempt that skipped inside the far post.

McKean doubled the lead 10 minutes into the second half by blocking a defender's pass, taking it herself and finding a tight window from 18 yards out.

The Raiders are off to a 3-0 start for the third consecutive season. The Royals, who received votes in this week's NAIA Top 25 poll, dropped to 2-1. They'd won their last three matchups against SOU.

The Raiders have still yet to allow a goal, and they kept the latest sheet clean by weathering 15 HIU shots. Goalkeeper Brittany Standley stopped the only four that went on target.

Vargas' goal was her second of the season, and it gave the junior 20 career points. McKean's was her first. Seven different Raiders have tallied already with one game left on the non-conference slate.

Westcliff (Calif.) – another team receiving votes in the NAIA poll, sitting at No. 26 overall – comes to town on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.