PEPPER PIKE, OHIO — Quick-strike ability and stingy defense have been early hallmarks of the Bellarmine University women's soccer team.

Junior forward Mary Beth Gorham scored a pair of goals, including one in the eighth minute, and the visiting Knights recorded their second straight shutout in a 2-0 victory Sunday over Ursuline.

The match pitted the preseason favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference in Bellarmine (2-0) against the established frontrunner of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in Ursuline (1-1).

"That was a great test for our team, specifically our younger players to learn about life on the road against a good opponent," BU Coach Chris Tinius said.

With a 3-0 victory over Lake Erie on Friday, the Knights are off to commanding start. That start has included the ability to score quickly. Gorham scored in the third minute against Lake Erie and found the back of the net in the eighth minute against Ursuline.

The score remained 1-0 at halftime and stayed the same deep into the second half until Gorham deposited her second goal off an assist from sophomore midfielder Sam Tilton. With 26 career goals, Gorham is now in sole possession of third on BU's all-time list. The two-time All-Region selection is also third in career points with 59.

"You can't ask for much more on a stat sheet than three goals and one assist in a weekend," Tinius said of Gorham.

Tinius couldn't ask for much more from his defense either. The Knights blanked their second consecutive opponent after allowing six shots, including three on frame. Junior goalkeeper Hannah Poteet had three saves and amassed the 14th shutout of her career to move her into a tie for second on BU's all-time list with Ann Demeter and Kathy Oboikowitch.

"Ursuline had a good game-plan to deal with us in the midfield," Tinius said. "We were still able to establish some good strings of possession but had to go about it a little differently. They also had good pace on the flanks to test our outside backs at times. They were all over us at points in the middle of the game, and I was proud of our back line for showing some real signs of improvement in the way they dealt with certain things."

The Knights were on target with their shots, with seven of nine being on frame, and Tinius said they responded well to overcome stretches of poor play.

"We actually started all veterans for the first time. The game started well but our play dropped off pretty quickly when we subbed," Tinius said. "We talked at halftime and said when we make changes, it has to give our team a lift. The girls really took ahold of that challenge. We put some different players in spots that were a bit foreign to them, but the energy of our subs changed the game back in our direction in the second half.

"Hopefully that's a message that sticks with not just the younger players but the entire group."

Bellarmine will host Ohio Dominican at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

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