AUSTIN – JULIA SPIELMANN and KATIE GAY scored two goals each, and the St. Edward's women's soccer defense led the Hilltoppers to a 5-0 victory over the Newman Jets in the season opener. 

The Hilltoppers' five goals were the most they've scored in a season opener since a 5-0 victory over New Mexico Highlands in 2016. St. Edward's scoring explosion was fueled by a swarming defensive performance, winning every 50/50 ball and jumping passing lanes to dominate possession for 62 percent of the game. 

St. Edward's aggressive offense kept the ball in its attacking third for 87 percent of its possession time, creating an 11-0 advantage in shots and 7-0 edge in corner kicks. 

Senior forward MARYANNE CROWE created several opportunities early, utilizing her size, change of pace, and technical brilliance to get the ball into space wide on the left side. After a few missed scoring chances, the Hilltoppers found the back of the net when Crowe found Spielmann in front of the net for the first goal of the season. 

JESSICA HYDE triggered the play on a throw-in, catching the Newman defensive back line sleeping with a long throw from near midfield down the left sideline, leading Crowe into open space. 

Crowe turned the corner against Newman's Bailey Stedman, finding a trailing Spielmann with a perfectly-place left-footed pass in front of the net for the assist. 

St. Edward's broke through again when Gay beat Newman's Claire Morgan to a loose ball, poking the ball into open space until Stedman attempted a dangerous slide tackle, earning a red card and setting up a penalty kick for Gay's first score of the season. 

Playing with a numbers advantage the rest of the way, the Hilltoppers poured on the pressure. Gay added another score on an unassisted goal five minutes into the second half when EMMA VIQUEZ led Spielmann with a nice touch pass into space in front of the net, forcing Newman's Maria Stephans to commit a foul, giving Spielmann a penalty kick for her second goal 66 minutes into the game. 

IZZY SINISCALCHI provided the final score of the game. ARI RAMIREZ delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the right flat for TRISTYN CABELLO, who made the one-touch cross to Siniscalchi, who settled the ball and fired the shot into the left corner before Newman's keeper could react. 

St. Edward's improves to 1-0 this season. The Hilltoppers will host No. 14-ranked Emporia State University on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 1:00 p.m.