Offense was the order of the day on a hot afternoon at Don Shula Stadium.

The John Carroll University women's soccer team came up short against the opposing Denison University Big Red by a score of 4-2 to begin their fall campaign. Even though the Blue and Gold suffered their first loss, there were many positive takeaways and encouraging performances.
           
Freshman Bailey Fischer dazzled in her collegiate debut with a pair of goals in the early stages of the game to spark the JCU attack. Also contributing was senior Danielle Sharbaugh with an accurate pass and assist on Fischer's second score.
           
Both teams began the afternoon in mid-season form offensively as they filled the stat sheet with four goals in the opening half. Fischer was the first to break the ice with an unassisted breakaway goal seven minutes into the contest. Denison midfielder Jessica Skelly responded shortly thereafter with a header shot past the Blue Streak defense off a corner kick.
           
The remainder of the opening period was more of the same back-and-forth action as Fischer knocked in her second goal midway through the half, taking a feed from Sharbaugh to beat the defense. The Big Red answered again with a deep 45-yard goal from sophomore Allison Villsack to even the score. After 45 minutes of play, the game was deadlocked at 2-2.

After 14 minutes of second half action, the Big Red gained their first lead thanks to a high-arching shot from senior Logan Berlet.

Andrea Witte was the next Denison player to strike as she lined a shot through the net with just under 10 minutes remaining, giving the North Coast Athletic Conference preseason favorites a comfortable two-goal cushion. The Blue Streaks had a few opportunities in the final few minutes, but were unable to capitalize.

John Carroll will hit the road and face off against Roanoke College this Saturday at 5 pm as part of the Roanoke Invitational Tournament to be held in Salem, VA.