ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst women's soccer team pulled ahead in the first half and held on for a 2-1 victory over Augustana in its CCIW opener.
 
After the Vikings (5-4, 0-1 CCIW) had the better of the possession for the first 20 minutes, the Bluejays (8-1, 1-0 CCIW) bounced back to score on two of three great chances before halftime.
 

Kim Stanczak almost put the Bluejays ahead in the 28th minute as she slipped her defender and fired a rocket that banged off the crossbar. The Bluejays capitalized 10 minutes later when Allie Kightly scored her second goal of the season. She ripped a low, bouncing free kick from 30 yards out that slipped inside the far post with the help of a Courtney O'Keeffe screen. The Bluejays then added another tally later in the half. Stanczak sent a corner and Megan Mrazek flicked a backwards header to the far post for the first goal of her collegiate career.
 
In the second half, Hannah Lohmeier buried a header off of a corner kick from Brianne Frys to pull the Vikings within one, but could not find the equalizing goal as Elmhurst took the victory.
 

Augustana outshot Elmhurst 21-9, but the Bluejays only trailed 9-7 in shots on goal. Bluejays' Emily Gordon made eight saves in the contest, including three diving efforts. Augustana's Bailey Bradford stopped five shots.
 
The Bluejays travel to Millikin for another CCIW contest this Saturday, October 1.