HIGHLIGHTS (YouTube)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel women's soccer team picked up a hard-fought, 1-0 victory over Alabama A&M Friday afternoon at Washington Light Infantry (WLI) Field.

For just the third time in program history, the Bulldogs have started the campaign off 2-0 following a season-opening 5-3 win over Hampton last Friday, Aug. 18. The Citadel also started off 2-0 in 2009 and the 2016 squad set a program record with three victories to kick off the season.

"Confidence was the most important thing (that we took away from today's game)," said Head Coach Ciaran Traquair. "While we're at home, we have to control the game. We want to dominate and play at a high tempo. Hopefully our players see the opportunity after last season when we started 3-0 and it was the first time we had started 3-0 in program history. We just talked about that (after today's game). I told them we want to match that and go beyond, so it's important that our standards are higher. Hopefully we'll get dryer conditions on Sunday and hopefully we get a nice flat surface and we'll go take care of business."

Forward Samara Nche recorded the lone goal on the afternoon in the 60^th minute off a perfectly-timed feed from freshman Kate Manzione a few yards outside of the box. Nche took just two touches off the feed and sent a rocket into the lower right corner of the net, giving the home Bulldogs in blue the 1-0 advantage over Alabama A&M (0-2).

Freshman Kaeley Johnston (2-0) earned her second collegiate start and first collegiate shutout between the pipes for The Citadel. The freshman faced just four shots with one being on frame, but that one was deflected by sophomore Kaeleigh Guth. Alabama A&M's Jodi Medina (0-2) faced 14 shots from The Citadel and made seven saves in a losing effort between the pipes.

Newcomers Cierra Skyers and Ellie Burgess each took a game-high four shots in the contest. All four of Burgess's shots were on frame while three of Skyers's were on goal.

The Citadel will have a short turnaround as the Bulldogs of South Carolina State will travel to Charleston on Sunday, Aug. 27, for a 1 p.m. tilt at WLI Field.

For more information on The Citadel soccer team, follow @CitadelWSoccer or visit CitadelSports.com.