CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State Women's Soccer (0-1) dropped its season-opening match against the UT Tyler Patriots (1-0), 3-1, at Soldier Field on Thursday afternoon.  
 
The opening 45 minutes of action were a defensive chess match between the Hillcats and Patriots. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first half, despite a pair of shot attempts from both UTT's Natalie Jones and RSU's Amber Arnold, who nearly connected on a pair of free-kick opportunities.
 
The narrative quickly changed in the second half, with UT Tyler breaking the gridlock in the 51^st minute from a corner kick by Brooke Mullins (assist: Ella Anderson) and in the 57th minute from a shot by Melissa Oliveira.
 
Down 2-0, the Hillcats responded with Elle Beaulieu's first career goal in the 64^th minute, a well-placed right-footed shot that curved into the back corner of the net. However, despite several offensive pushes down the stretch, the Patriots would hang on to take the two-goal victory with the help of Oliveira's second goal in the 86^th minute.
 
In her first start in goal for the Red and Navy, junior Calais Butts collected seven saves in 90 minutes. Junior midfielder Anna Hibbard also did not exit the pitch.
 
RSU will return home on Saturday to take on the UT Dallas Comets at 7:00 p.m.