WAIPAHU, Hawai'i — Freshman midfielder, Elaina Pierce, grabbed a late 76^th-minute goal to give the Westminster College women's soccer team (1-0) a season-opening 1-0 win on Thursday over the University of Hawai'i at Hilo (0-1).  Thursday's game was hosted by Hawai'i Pacific University at the Waipahu Peninsula Soccer Park.

The Griffins have now won back-to-back season openers and take a 1-0 series lead over the Vulcans as the two programs had never met before Thursday's one-goal win for Westminster.

Westminster put almost half of their shots on target (3 of 8), but the defensive battle saw just six total first-half shots between the two teams.  It was Pierce's 75th minute goal, her first-career collegiate goal, that broke the deadlock and gave Westminster the advantage.

Kelsea Cracroft and the Griffins' defense would hold on in the final ten minutes and change to secure a season-opening clean sheet, Cracroft's second-career shutout in net for Westminster.

The Griffins return to action on Sunday afternoon as they take on Hawai'i Pacific University beginning at 5 p.m. (MDT), back at the Waipio Soccer Park.