CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's soccer team could not recover from a tough start as St. Mary's picked up a 6-0 shutout opening the 2014 Heartland Conference season Saturday evening at Soldier Field.
 
Kristal Williams tallied two goals 1 minute, 13 seconds apart in the opening three minutes of the match setting the tone for the Rattlers. Both goals for Williams came by slipping past the Hillcat defenders before slotting the ball past starting goalkeeper Teri Cocke.
 
RSU created several offensive chances to cut into the deficit in the first half after settling into the match. Sophomore Paige Pontarolo nearly snuck a free kick from just off the end line past StMU goalkeeper Alyssa Taramona to the near post. The effort sparked the Hillcats as Pontarolo and Jianna Cervantes launched balls toward the Rattler goal combining for five of the team's six shots on goal for the night.
 
The work could not dent the scoreboard and St. Mary's took advantage of a miscue by RSU in the closing minutes of the first half for a 3-0 lead at intermission. The score was the first of two in the game for Kaitlyn Judge who added her second in the 49th minute.
 
The Rattlers added late goals in the 73rd and 90th minutes securing the conference road victory 6-0.
 
Despite the final score, the Hillcats outshot StMU by a 19-15 margin for the contest but could not put one past Taramona, who got the shutout making six saves while Cocke made five saves in the losing effort.
 
RSU (0-10 overall, 0-1 Heartland) returns to the field Monday for a matinee against Texas A&M International at noon at Soldier Field. The match will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.