A pair of second-half goals erased an early deficit and lifted the 25th-ranked Denison women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Adrian College in the Big Red's season opener at Barclay-Thomsen Field in Granville, Ohio.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Sam Baker chipped a ball past first-year keeper Andrea Karl (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) and right to teammate Brittany Moreau who knocked it into a wide open net.  The Big Red had plenty of opportunities to score in the opening frame, but Adrian goalie Chayna Wallace stopped all four shots she faced.

After a sluggish start to the second half, DU knotted the game at 1-1 when junior Clare Meernik (Redford, Mich./Marian) settled a crossing pass in traffic from Jenn Sloan (Bethesda, Md./Sidwell Friends School) and buried the ball behind Wallace.  The Big Red's first goal of 2010 came at the 69:24 mark.  Just 2:24 second later, junior Tory Danis (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) hit a streaking Libbie Randolph (Hardyville, Va./Christchurch School) down the left side of the field.  Randolph inched away from the Bulldog defender and fired a shot past Wallace into the lower left corner.  Randolph's first-collegiate tally gave Denison a 2-1 edge.

However, Adrian did not go down without a fight.  With just under two minutes left in regulation, AC had a chance to tie the contest when they were awarded a corner kick.  Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, an attempt at a short corner turned into a breakaway opportunity for the home team.  Adrian's final chance to force overtime came with just second left in the match.  Anika Johnson fired a cross goal shot from roughly 25 yards out, but a diving Karl was able to get her finger tips on the ball and knock it away as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Senior Jen Clemmer (Hixson, Tenn./The Baylor School) and rookie Lauren Jay (Westerville, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) recorded six and five shots, respectively, while Karl made three saves en route to her first-career victory.  Johnson finished the day with four shots, and Wallace stopped eight shots in goal.

DU improves to 1-0 on the year, while the Bulldogs fall to 0-1. Denison returns to action Saturday afternoon when they host Carnegie Mellon University at 1 p.m.