THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – Making her Maritime coaching debut on Thursday evening, Women's Soccer Head Coach Robyn Serge recorded the first victory at the helm of the Privateers and 58th for her career. Maritime scored a pair of first half tallies and went on to defeat the King's (NY) Lions by a 2-0 score on Reinhart Field.
 
Scoring for the Privateers were senior Staci Evans (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) and junior Julianna Avitto (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. John the Baptist), while Avitto and classmate Gayle Woods (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) had the assists for the Privateers on the match.
 
In goal, sophomore Cammie Havens (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Borough) picked up the win without having to record a save as the stout Privateer defense held the Lions to just two shots on the game.
 
Defensively the team was led by juniors Paige Frankel (Hackensack, N.J./Immaculate Conception), Olivia Mihaljevich (Leona Valley, Calif./Quartz Hill), Roseleen Frawley (Bronx, N.Y./Preston), and freshman Elizabeth Millicker (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North).
 
Evans got the Privateers on the board just 10 minutes into the contest, as she cleaned up a rebound off the initial shot by Avitto. The ball bounced back to Avitto, who touched it to a wide-open Evans on the left goalmouth, who tapped it in for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Woods had several chances to score as she led the team with nine shots on the evening, with four of those shots on target. Avitto was second on the team with three shots, while Evans, junior Jessica Yee (Freehold, N.J./Freehold), and freshmen Leigh Kouril (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown), Alison Gilbert (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst), and Kayla Kelly (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) each had two shots apiece.
 
In the 26th minute of play, Avitto netted her first of the season as she took a cross from Woods and drove home the goal for the 2-0 advantage.
 
The Privateers took six more shots as a team down the stretch of the opening half and took the 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
After the intermission, Maritime had several chances on corner kicks, and also squandered some opportunities with several offsides called against them, but the Privateers were able to hold down the Lions and seal the season-opening victory.
 
In the end, the Privateers outshot their guests by a 23-2 difference, while taking five corners kicks on the evening.
 
Maritime (1-0) will have a quick turnaround, as the team heads to nearby Lehman College for their first road contest of the season. Kickoff against the Lightning will begin at 5:00 p.m.