LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Wesleyan women's soccer team began the Coach Jen Dyson era in impressive fashion on Friday night (Aug. 31) as the Prairie Wolves knocked off old rival Doane University 4-1 in the 2018 season opener at Abel Stadium.
 
NWU starts the year with a 1-0 record under new head coach Dyson.  The match was an exhibition match for Doane and will not count on their overall record.
 
The first 45 minutes of the match were scoreless for both teams, then five total goals were scored in the second half.
 
Freshman Christian Oleartchick wasted little time to get the scoring started in the second half as she found the back of the net in the 46^th minute for the initial goal of the season. It also marked her first career collegiate goal in a Prairie Wolves uniform.
 
Later in the half, a pair of seniors connected to put the Prairie Wolves ahead by two. Shannon Jerram scored in the 54^th minute on an assist by Raissa Souza.  The lead was extended to three during just five minutes later when freshman Hannah Rhodes scored her first college goal on an assist by Jerram.
 
Doane was able to get their only goal of the match in the 69^th minute, but that was all they would get.
 
Jenna Schroeder capped the Prairie Wolves scoring in the 81^st minute as she scored a goal on Souza's second assist of the match.
 
NWU will have very little time to celebrate the victory as they have open the season with three matches in three days.
 
On Saturday the Prairie Wolves host Westminster College, Coach Dyson's former team, at 3 pm at Abel Stadium.  The Bluejays opened their season on Friday with a win over American Rivers member Simpson College.  NWU closes the opening weekend on Sunday with a match against Concordia-Moorhead.