NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The schedule said it was the season-opener, but Friday''s Yale women''s soccer game against Marist had post-season intensity. In the end, though, it worked out quite well for the Bulldogs, who blanked the Red Foxes 2-0 before an enthusiastic crowd at Reese Stadium. "I expected it would be a physical game," said Yale head coach Rudy Meredith. "We had a close game with them last year. I give them credit. They kept fighting." There were 26 fouls in the game. It was a pair of freshmen that provided Yale with its offense. Meredith Speck scored early in the first half, and Georgiana Wagemann added an insurance goal midway through the second half. "We have some freshmen that can score," Meredith said. "I''m really happy that we were able to finish off the game. Hopefully we can build on that." Speck''s first career goal got the Bulldogs on the board at 8:25. Anne Song tallied the assist. Enma Mullo set up the second goal with a gorgeous 30-yard pass upfield. Wagemann controlled it and beat Marist goalkeeper Caitlin Landsman at 64:33. That was more enough for a Yale defense that didn''t allow many high-quality scoring chances. Adele Jackson-Gibson made three saves to post he first career shutout. "It was important to get the shutout," Meredith said. "We only had four last year so that is an area we are trying hard to improve on." Meredith had three freshmen – Speck, Muriel Battaglia and Melissa Gavin – in the starting lineup. Wagemann, Frannie Coxe and Madi Bickel came off the bench. The game was part of the Yale Soccer Classic. Central Connecticut beat Providence 2-1 in the first game of the day. On Sunday, Marist and Central Connecticut meet at noon followed by Yale against Providence at 2:30 p.m.