Junior midfielder Nikki Bruscino (left) got the scoring started in the eighth minute when she picked up a loose ball, split the defense, and found the back of the net for her first goal of the year and a 1-0 lead for MVNU (3-5-0, 1-2-0 AMC).

Sophomore forward Jessica Estep increased the lead to 2-0 just 1:34 later when she dribbled through the defense and scored her fourth goal of the season.

The lead grew to 3-0 just 3:19 later when senior midfielder Erin Miller sent a pass to Bruscino for her second goal of the match and the seventh of her career.

Estep also notched her second goal of the match in the 19th minute when she headed in a corner kick from senior defender Kelly Sgambellone to make it 4-0. The goal was the fifth of the year for Estep and the 27th of her young career.

The score would remain that way until early in the second half when in the 53rd minute Sgambellone set up another goal when her corner kick was knocked into the back of the net by senior forward Page Miller for a 5-0 advantage. It was Miller’s second goal of the year and 23rd of her career.

The lead ballooned to 6-0 in the 67th minute when freshman defender Ashley Smithberger headed in a corner kick from freshman defender Kelci Rhodes for her first collegiate goal and the third goal off a corner kick in the match for the Lady Cougars.

Freshman midfielder Camille Smith wrapped up the scoring in the 84th minute when she followed up a shot by freshman forward Erin Washington for her first career goal to make it 7-0.

“It was great that we could score a bunch of goals today,” said MVNU coach Jonathan Meade. “Jessica scored a couple more, Nikki broke through today and scored, and it was just nice to have several different players score to build their confidence.”

“In the first half, even though we scored some goals in the first 15 minutes I was still getting on the girls because we had scored goals even though we were not playing very good soccer,” Meade added. “At halftime, we talked about playing at the high standard that we want to play at and not lower our standard. I felt really good about the second half with how the girls came out and played hard, moved the ball around, scored some more goals, and played good soccer. We had a lot of freshmen play in the second half and gaining valuable experience. With our team, everyone can play - they just need to gain the confidence that comes with getting experience.”

The Lady Cougars posted a lopsided 38-0 margin in total shots with 20 shots on goal. MVNU also took 11 corner kicks and did not allow the Red Storm (0-6-1, 0-3-1 AMC) any. Freshman goalkeeper Courtney Ball made her first start and registered a shutout for the Lady Cougars, while Rio Grande goalie Sarah Sandlin stopped 12 shots.

“It is nice to get our first conference win and we will enjoy it this weekend,” said Meade. “Then, we will come out on Monday and start preparing for our next match on Tuesday night.”

MVNU will travel to Carlow (Pa.) University on Tuesday for another AMC match that will kick off at 7:00 p.m.