MANSFIELD, Pa. - The Mansfield Mountaineers Women's Soccer team (0-0-1) kicked off their 2024 campaign at Karl Van Norman Field against the Caldwell University Cougars (1-0-1) on Saturday afternoon.

The game marks the opening of the Tara Koleski era, as the new Mountianeers' head coach. 

Mansfield's first opportunity came in the 18th minute off a Luckenbill free kick that found Kerrah Clymer's right foot, but Caldwell managed to block the shot and clear before the Mounties could capitalize.  

With just over six minutes to go Mansfield Goalkeeper Alyssa Shuman made an aggressive decision to come out and cut down a promising chance for the Cougars making a sprawling save to keep the game tied at zero.

Katelyn Rueppel scored the first goal of the season for the Mountaineers with 3:03 left in the first half. The chance came from another Luckenbill free kick that trickled through the Cougars backline and created a one-on-one opportunity for Rueppel.

A defensive start to the second half kept the game 1-0 with 15 minutes to go. The Cougars got on the board with 13:40 to go and tied the game at one.  

After the game coach Koleski said "I couldn't be prouder of this group. Every day is going to be progress for us. We have to believe in ourselves that we can get through 90 minutes, they responded to getting scored on, they did what they needed to do to hold onto the tie."

Mansfield goalie Alyssa Shuman finished the game with 11 saves in her first career appearance.

UP NEXT:

The Mountaineers go on the road for their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game to take on the Bald Eagles from Lock Haven University at 5:30 p.m.