Box Score (PITTSBURGH, PA) - The Chatham University women's soccer team opened the 2014 regular season as they fell to Franciscan University 4-0 on Friday evening at Varsity Field.

Senior midfielder Sarah Ellis (Lawrence, PA / Canon-McMillan High School) led the offensive attack with 5 shots on goal. First year forward Megan Sieg (Pittsburgh, PA / Serra Catholic High School) also showed strong offensive prowess with 4 shots on goal.

The first half was a tightly contested battle as both teams made pushes at an early lead. The Chatham defense held strong as the back line of Jessica Manfredi and Skyler Benjamin turned away the Franciscan attack. Senior Becca Pell and Junior Auralia Henderson dropped in for strong support while goalkeeper Liz Sawyer held the line with 7 saves.

The Barons broke through in the 16^th minute of the first half on a corner kick by Ashley Ruttencutter. When the ball deflection off forward Jordan Byrley for the match's first goal.  The first half concluded with an even shot count of six per side.

Chatham's best scoring opportunity came in the second half as first year forward Amber DeCarlo's  (Pittsburgh, PA / Serra Catholic High School) shot sailed just high of the goal. The Barons broke the game open in the second half with a flurry of three goals in nine minutes.
      
The Cougars will be back in action in their second home match of the season on Sunday, August 31st when they host Muskingum University of Ohio at 4 PM.

The Cougars will be competing in men's athletics in 2015. The men's programs including baseball, basketball, cross country, swimming and diving, track and field, and volleyball.

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Chatham University, founded in 1869, is located in the vibrant Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. Preparing students from around the world, Chatham's enrollment throughout the past decade was the fastest growing in the Pittsburgh region.

Consisting of a historic, undergraduate women's college and graduate and online programs for both men and women, Chatham has consistently been ranked among the top master's level institutions in the Northeast by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Offering challenging academics and innovative programming in the fields of sustainability and the environment, the health sciences, and business & entrepreneurship, a Chatham education is designed to meet the needs of tomorrow's economy, today.

Chatham has also demonstrated institutional commitments to reach carbon neutrality by 2025 as a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, has been named to The Princeton Review's 2013 Green Honor Roll as one of the most environmentally responsible universities in the U.S. and Canada, received a STARS Gold Rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and is the alma mater of environmental icon and Silent Spring author, Rachel Carson (class of '29).

For more information, call 800-837-1290 or visit www.chatham.edu.