Haley Mendel (10) celebrates with her teammates afterscoring a goal in the Rambelles' 4-2 win over Adams State on Friday. " src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=14&image_path=/images/2014/9/5/DM1_5806.jpg" />

BOX SCORE: Angelo State 4, Adams State 2

SAN ANGELO – Angelo State sophomore Haley Mendel scored two goals and assisted on another to help lead the Rambelle soccer team to a 4-2 season-opening win over Adams State on Friday at the ASU Soccer Field.

"I was really excited about our attacking and the way we moved forward to put pressure on them early," ASU head coach Travis McCorkle said. "It was a great way to start the season for us."

Mendel, who did not score a goal last year as a freshman, scored her first goal just a minute and a half into the game off an assist from Brianne Brown and then her second goal at the 34:01 mark off an assist from Jenny Kotowych. Fellow sophomore Ashley Exford would score four minutes later off an assist from Kathleen Keoughan to give the Rambelles a 3-0 lead at halftime.

"I thought Haley played great throughout the game," McCorkle said. "We talked to her last year about taking on more of an offensive role and be more a part of our attack. I think she may have been a little too shy as a freshman, but she showed today that she is ready to step up to contribute with goals and assists."

Adams State responded quickly in the second half with two goals in the first seven minutes of play. Laci Jones got the Grizzlies on the board first before Alex Sanderson scored an unassisted goal which cut the Rambelle lead to one.

"We have 19 underclassmen who are inexperienced and may have tracked back when we had the 3-0 lead," McCorkle said. "It was disappointing, but we responded which was a positive."

The scoring would slow down the next 20 minutes before Cynthia Andrews scored off an assist from Mendel to give ASU its winning margin. The goal was the second in the career of Andrews and gave the team renewed momentum after the Grizzlies had made it a contest. 

"Her goal cannot be underrated," McCorkle said. "We needed another goal to relieve some pressure that they put on us with those two goals. I think our defenders also stepped up and decided they weren't going to give up that third goal."

Angelo State goalkeeper Shantel Wittke recorded six saves in the season opening win for the Rambelles. Wittke played all 90 minutes in goal for ASU, while Molly O'Connor had three saves for Adams State but allowed the four goals.

ASU scored four goals in only one game last year, a 4-1 win over Texas Woman's, and had more than two goals in two games the entire season. The Rambelles are now 3-2 all-time against Adams State and are now 11-6-3 all-time in series opener. Angelo State will return to action at noon on Sunday with a game against New Mexico Highlands back at the ASU Soccer Field. The two teams tied 1-1 last season in the season opener in New Mexico. 

"New Mexico Highlands was physical with the ball last year and I think they'll be improved this season with the ball," McCorkle said. "It's going to be a challenging game for us and we'll have to come in ready like we did today."