Getting the season off to a strong start has been the norm for the UW-Stevens Point women's soccer team and the trend continued Friday as the Pointers opened the season with a victory for the 10th straight year with a 3-2 win over Southwestern (Tex.) in San Antonio, Texas.


The Pointers got goals from three different players and never trailed in the night match that began with temperatures in the mid-90's. UW-Stevens Point worked through the first half heat to build a 2-0 halftime lead and then held off the Pirates for the victory.


Liz Kidd (Shorewood/Shorewood) scored the first goal of the match on a scramble in front of the net. Pirates' goalkeeper Erin Snyder appeared to have possession, but lost control and Kidd was able to tap in the loose ball in the match's 33rd minute.


UW-Stevens Point then got a huge momentum boost in the closing minute of the half as Brittany Dantinne (Green Bay/Luxemberg-Casco) sent a long pass to Amanda Prawat (Oregon/Oregon) (pictured, above), who converted a breakaway with three seconds left in the half for the 2-0 advantage.


Southwestern controlled the early portion of the second half and cut the lead to 2-1 when Nicole Morilak scored just over 10 minutes into the half. UW-Stevens Point regained its control when defender Abbey Kirchdoerfer (Oregon/Oregon) sent a long ball from the back that Kaylee Weise (Brookfield/East) (pictured, right) chased down and scored on a breakaway to push the lead back to two goals.


Southwestern's Mimi Tang scored with under nine minutes left and the Pirates had another great chance with just over four minutes remaining that sailed over the crossbar.


The Pointers held a 12-10 advantage in shots as Meredith DeCaluwe (Naperville, IL/Central) made three saves in goal. UW-Stevens Point concludes its southern trip by playing seventh-ranked Trinity (Tex.) on Sunday at 7 p.m. in San Antonio.