DUBUQUE, Iowa. (Duhawks.com) - The Duhawks bounced back after a 5-1 loss to UW-Oshkosh on Tuesday to defeat St. Olaf (0-2-0) 4-1 in their home opener. 

Senior Danielle Vujovic quickly opened up the game in the 3rd minute with her first goal of the 2015 season to give Loras an early lead. The pressure went back on forth as both teams battled for control of the field. Loras caught a break after an St. Olaf own-goal in the 27th minute sending the Duhawks into halftime with a 2-nil advantage.

Out of the halftime break, Loras continued to apply pressure in hopes to put the game out of reach. A foul on senior Katie Truesdale near the corner of the 18 set up a free kick opportunity with scoring implications. Even with a three-person wall in front of her, Truesdale blasted the free kick past a diving Ruth Hesse to give her team the three-goal advantage.

Less than a minute later, sophomore Riley O'Neil found herself with space in the middle of the pitch and ripped her shot into the upper-90 to extend Loras' lead to four.

Refusing to go quietly, St. Olaf's Leah Brieger would capitalize on a loose ball at the top of the six in the 76th minute to put the Oles on the board. The goal broke up the shutout bid for Loras, but the defense stood tall the rest of the way to seal the 4-1 victory. 

GOAL SUMMARY
3'| LOR | Danielle Vujovic (Gretchen Schutz)
26' | LOR | Own Goal
58' | LOR | Katie Truesdale (Unassisted)
59' | STO | Riley O'Neill (Elizabeth Mills)
77' | LOR | Leah Brieger (Unassisted)

KEY SAVES AND PLAYS
23' | STO | Emily Helle pings her shot off the cross bar
23' | STO | For the second time in a minute, St. Olaf hits the crossbar with a shot, this time by Madison Van Wylen
41' | LOR | Elizabeth Mills uses a breakaway for a shot on goal but is saved by Ruth Hesse 

LINEUPS
LOR | Maris Siebels (GK), Claire Murphy, Lizzy McWhinney, Katie Truesdale, Sydney Wright, Elizabeth Mills, Gretchen Schutz, Riley O'Neill, Hanna Burgmeier, Kat Hermanas, Danielle Vujovic
STO | Ruth Hasse (GK), Sarah Bhr, Lindsey Kemp, Madison Van Wylen, Kaylyn Billmeyer, Emily Helle, Emily Sierakowski, Abby Stets, Ashley Kimmell, Grace Bestler, Hannah Stoker

THE FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Riley O'Neill | With Loras leading 3-0 in the second half, Riley O'Neill put the game away for good with her upper-90 blast

UP NEXT
The Duhawks are back on the Rock Bowl to face Augustana on Monday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. The Vikings defeated UW-La Crosse in their season opener 2-1. Ahead of Monday's contest, Augustana will play the University of Chicago on Saturday afternoon. In last year's meeting, Loras was a 2-1 winner thanks to Maura Walsh's late winner.