The SMU women’s soccer team started their season with a win Friday night, beating the Florida Internatioinal University’s Golden Panthers 1-0.

After a somewhat subdued first half, the team stepped up their game. Senior defensive player Lauren Shepherd scored the game-winning goal from the right outside corner with 13 minutes left in the game.

“I was shocked,” says Lauren Shepherd. “It’s a good way to start out the season.”

This is the first time that SMU has played FIU since 1995. The Mustangs have defeated the Golden Panthers in all seven games in which they have competed during their history. The Mustangs are 21-4 in season openers all-time.

“Everyone wants to win their first game–it sets the tone [for the season],” says head coach Brett Erwin.

While the Mustangs are a fairly young team with only three senior players on their roster, Coach Brett Erwin does not consider this to be a disadvantage.

“We have a young team, but we have strong leadership. Our senior leaders are incredibly strong. Shepherd is one of them,” says Erwin. “You see Mederios out there running, and she never stops running. When you have leadership like that, then everything kind of evens out.”

Freshman midfielder Jessica Bartol was ranked the No.16 recruit in Florida. Bartol played a hard game Friday, even after receiving twenty stitches in her head during the preseason.

“We are a hard-fighting team,” says Bartol. “We don’t give up.”

Next weekend, the Mustangs will travel to Oregon to face off both No. 5 Portland on Aug. 27, and Oregon Aug. 29.

The Portland Pilots went 21-2-0 last season, reaching the NCAA quarter finals where they lost to UCLA 2-1.

This is also the first time in SMU women’s soccer history that the team will play against the Oregon Ducks.

The Mustangs’ next home game is scheduled for Sept. 3 at Wescott Field where they will face St. Louis.