NEED TO KNOW:

Score: Northwest 0 , Life U 5

Records: Northwest, 11-7-3; Life U, 13-4-2

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Life U women's soccer team cruised to a 5-0 victory in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament Thursday evening against Northwest University. 

The Running Eagles scored early in the first half and four more times in the second half to put the game away.

Though Northwest had 13 shots and Life U totaled 14 shots for the contest, the Running Eagles were able to put up a brick wall to keep the Eagles to zero goals. 

Freshman Sara Diaz started things right at the beginning with her fifth goal of the season at the 1:52 minute mark. The first half was a battle which left the Eagles trailing Life U 1-0 going into the break. 

Then, with only one minute into the second half, graduate student Anakah Madril found Lilja Bjorg Olafsdottir in front of the goal to put one in the back of the net giving Life U a 2-0 lead. 

Madril was not ready to settle yet and quickly charged down the field to put up an extra two goals in less than a minute with assists from Lottie Turner and Marey Helgadottir to bring the Running Eagles to a 4-0 lead. 

In the 63rd minute, Lavinia Horning put another goal past the Eagles defenders to help grant the victory to the Running Eagles. 

Grace Staunton made five saves in the contest, while Lisset Fernanda Ruiz-Franco made two saves to keep the Eagles off the board. 

Up next, the Running Eagles will stay in Savannah to take on SCAD this Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m.

TURNING POINT:

- Diaz's early first half goal was all Life U needed in the 5-0 shutout.