WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Martin Luther College Knights rolled into Watertown with some "home support" behind them and rolled away with a 4-0 win this afternoon to spoil the Sabercats' home opener.

The Knights peppered the Sabercats with numerous shots in the season-opener, but the Sabercats limited the Knights to just two goals per half.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 0-4 Martin Luther
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 482
• Record: MBU (0-1-0), MLC (1-0-0)

STORY

The Knights announced their intentions right from the get-go, as they would rattle off 18 shots in the first half alone. After piping the crossbar early on, the Knights' pressure paid off when Hannah Schroeder slotted a low shot to find the back of the net in the 10th minute. The Knights doubled their lead around the 20-minute mark when Megan Marohn deflected the ball into the net for the 2-0 lead.

The score would hold until halftime. Mallory Willette was called on to make eight first-half saves - a number she would repeat in the second half.

Gabrielle Donough had two shots on goal in her Sabercats' debut. Donough was one of 12 debutants for the Sabercats in the home opener, as a spirited young squad battled with a large fan base behind them in a tough season-opening loss.

Schroeder and Tabitha Gregorius scored the goals for Martin Luther in the second half. Willette finished the day with a career-best 16 saves.

Danelle Habegger, Katelyn Morrison, Olivia Cansler, Chelsea Graham, Esther Garren, Kathleen Francis, Jenna Clark, Jocelyn Metcalf, Megan Prigge, Gabrielle Donough, Sara Herrera, and Aubrey Secor all made their college soccer debuts in the wild home opener.

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Maranatha Starters: 0- Willette, 5- Graham, 7- Garren, 8- Bishop (C), 9- Francis, 10- Hoffmann, 16- Hassenplug (C), 17- Prigge, 19- Donough, 20- Herrera, 21- Secor

STATS

• Shot count: Maranatha 4-42 Martin Luther
• Willette: career-high 16 saves
• Donough: 2 shots on goal
• Series: This was the first match-up in Women's Soccer for Maranatha and Martin Luther

OPPONENTS

• Martin Luther competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII)
• Martin Luther begins UMAC play September 17
• Martin Luther finished the 2021 season with a 5-12-1 record

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Plymouth, Wisconsin to take on Lakeland University on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.