MINNEAPOLIS -- Claiming its fourth straight shutout with a dominant performance, the Augsburg College women's soccer team opened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 3-0 win over Saint Mary's University on Tuesday evening at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 3, Saint Mary's 0
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 4-1-0 overall (1-0-0 MIAC), Saint Mary's 1-2-1 overall (0-1-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg extended its active opponent scoreless streak to 415:20 with the shutout win. The Auggies outshot the Cardinals by a 26-2 margin -- 11-1 in the first half and 15-1 in the second half, dominating possession throughout the contest. Augsburg also had seven corner kicks, while not surrendering any to Saint Mary's.
• Ciara Gregory (FY, Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) opened the scoring with a goal in the 31st minute. Taking a feed from Hannah Whitington (SR, Eagle Lake, Minn./Mankato East HS), Gregory shot and hit the goalpost from close range, then scored on her own rebound.
• Carter Denison (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) gave the Auggies a 2-0 advantage with a rising shot from right to left from 20 yards out off a short feed by Olivia House (FY, Richfield, Minn.) in the 39th minute.
• Marta Anderson (SR, Mankato, Minn./Mankato East HS) capped the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 82nd minute, scoring off a clearing attempt by a Saint Mary's defender.
• Gregory had five shots in the game, while Denison and Ashley St. Aubin (FY, Burnsville, Minn.) had four shots each. Anderson and Nora Edelen (SO, Middleton, Wis.) had three shots apiece. 
• Augsburg's two goalkeepers again split the shutout win. Marissa Guillou (JR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) played the first half, and Emily Chapman (FY, Elburn, Ill./Kaneland HS) played the second half and had one save.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Augsburg has now outscored its opponents by a 17-1 margin through the first four games of the season, and it's four shutouts are tied for the lead among Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams in overall statistics.

FOR THE FOES
• Bridgett Leverich had both of Saint Mary's shots in the contest.
• Gabriella Pederson had eight saves in goal for the Cardinals.

QUOTE FROM AUGSBURG HEAD COACH MIKE NAVARRE
• "A great start to the conference season. We placed an emphasis on possession and ball circulation, and for the most part, I thought we did well in those areas. Tomorrow's game is another opportunity to improve and pick up from where we left off tonight."

UP NEXT
• Augsburg hosts Bethany Lutheran in a nonconference game on Wednesday (9/14) at 5 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field.
• Saint Mary's host Saint Benedict on Saturday (9/17) at 1 p.m.