MIDWAY, Ky. -- After splitting their first two games earlier this week against Pikeville (Ky.) and Kentucky Christian, the Midway women's soccer team wrapped up a busy opening week by hosting Berea (Ky.) on Saturday at the Midway Soccer Field.

The Mountaineers struck first scoring in the 40th minute and took a 1-0 lead at intermission before adding three more markers in the second stanza en route to the 4-1 victory.

The Eagles wrapped up their three-match opening week with a 1-2 mark following the loss on Saturday, while Berea improves to 2-3 overall following the win.

Both teams got off to a bit of a slow start, but the Berea offense soon picked up the pressure and peppered the Midway defense with four shots within two minutes of each other.

Yasmeen Shalash (Nicholasville, Ky.) stopped two of the shots, while one clanked off the post and the other sailed high. Midway got a pair of shots from Lyla Khanthachack (Groveport, Ohio) and Marissa Sauer (Henderson, Ky.), but neither found paydirt as the game remained scoreless.

Things would remain that way until the 40th minute when Berea's Bailee Franklin got behind the Midway defense and scored the first tally of the match as the visitors took a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Berea continued to apply pressure early in the second half as they got goals from Alyssa Tittsworth and Naomi Scott before the lead ballooned to 3-0.

Midway finally broke through in the 76th minute by way of a penalty kick from Sauer. The junior was awarded the PK following a handball in the box. Sauer found the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season, but the Eagles ultimately fell short falling 4-1.

Shalash suffered the loss for the Blue and Gold as she stopped seven of the 11 shots she faced, while her counterpart, Michelle Mecham made two stops in a winning effort.

Sherrill Smith's squad is now set to open River States Conference play on Thursday (Sept. 16) when they host St. Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) at 1 p.m. ET at the Midway Soccer Field.

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