BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Freshman Mariana Ruas scored the first goal of her young career and the LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team put together an impressive effort in its opening home game of the year, a 1-0 victory over UMBC at LIU Field. The Blackbirds outshot the Retrievers, 12-2, including a 7-0 margin in the first half and did not allow the visitors a shot on goal.

Less than eight minutes into the match, LIU had a tremendous opportunity to score after senior Nicole Labo switched fields and found freshman Lucy Gunton-Jones down the right side. Gunton-Jones sent a ball far post for senior Alana Wohlers, who rifled a shot just high of the crossbar.

The Blackbirds kept the pressure on and had another chance in the 32nd minute as senior Toni Smith found herself all alone behind the Retriever defense. UMBC junior goalkeeper Lauren Kadet came up big with a save to keep the contest scoreless.

With time running down in the opening half, Labo found Ruas inside the 18-yard box. Ruas stopped the ball, turned and fired a shot past Kadet from 10 yards out to give LIU a 1-0 lead.

The Retrievers picked up their pace in the second half and were awarded three consecutive corner kicks in a span of less than a minute in the 58th and 59th minutes, but the Blackbirds were up to the challenge each time.

LIU nearly doubled its lead in the 83rd minute as Gunton-Jones rocketed a shot off the crossbar from distance. The rebound came down to junior Caroline Kaplan, who headed a shot that appeared to be destined for the back of the net before Kadet came out of nowhere to make the save.

The Blackbirds defense, led by senior Katie Egan, held firm over the final seven minutes to preserve the shutout victory. Junior Jennifer Bannon earned her first shutout of the season while not having to record a save for LIU. The clean sheet was the 21st of Bannon's career, tying Stephanie Kansky for the most all-time in LIU history.

LIU continues its 2012 campaign on Friday, Sept. 7 at the Black Knight Classic, hosted by Army. The Blackbirds will take on Syracuse on the first day of competition at 3:00 p.m.

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