Emmitsburg, Md. (August 24, 2012)--Mount St. Mary's opened the 2012 season with a 4-1 victory over visiting Towson at Waldron Family Stadium on campus on Friday night.  Senior Kelly Baker scored a pair of goals to pace the Mount to the victory.

Mount St. Mary's (1-0-0) opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Baker took a pass from Ragan Cote and headed the ball past a charging goalkeeper to put the Mount ahead.

Just under eight minutes later, Alicia Mirando gave the Mountaineers a 2-0 advantage when she finished a shot inside the box.  On the play, freshman Julia DiGiacomo fed Mirando for the goal to record her first collegiate point with the assist.

Mount St. Mary's pushed the advantage to three goals in the 38th minute when Cote was sent in alone on the goalie after a beautiful through pass from freshman Nadine Goerke.  Cote was able to finish the play, giving the Mountaineers a commanding 3-0 halftime advantage.

Baker's second goal of the game in the 80th minute lifted the Mount to a 4-0 lead.  The goal came on a nice passing play that started with Baker dropping the ball to Jackie Corley, who fed Goerke, who sent a pass to the middle to a wide-open Baker.

Towson's Hollie Garber scored in the final minute to break the Mount's shutout bid.

Baker finished with two goals to lead the Mount offense while Cote added a goal and an assist.  Goerke chipped in two assists as well.

Freshmen Nicole Vallely, Brinley Watts, Emma Blair and goalkeeper Rachel Bourne all started in their collegiate debuts.  Bourne played the first half, not allowing a goal, to earn the win.  Freshman Vicky Cocozza made three saves while allowing one goal in the second half for the Mount.

The Mount outshot Towson (0-3) 16-7 in the game, including an impressive 10-1 in the first half.  Towson goalkeeper Erin Quinn made six saves in the loss.

The Mount is now 3-14 all-time against Towson, but has won the past two meetings between the teams at Waldron Family Stadium.  The four goals marked the most by a Mount team against the Tigers in the all-time series that began in 1992.

The Mount returns to action on Sunday when Rider visits Waldron Family Stadium for a 3:00 p.m. game.

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