Lisa Elledge heads in Paige Kilpatrick's throw-in during Sunday's first half.
ASHLAND – A nine-day layoff did nothing to deter the Southern Oregon women's soccer team's promising start to the season.
The Raiders remained unbeaten Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 defeat of Simpson at University Field, and in the process got goals from three previously untapped sources.
Defender Alyssa Bricker got the Raiders (2-0-1 overall) going thanks to a corner in the 25th minute, knocking in Chloe Welch's pass that found her right in front of the goal. Bricker, a senior, hadn't gotten on the board since scoring twice during her freshman season.
Freshman Lisa Elledge headed in Paige Kilpatrick's mammoth throw-in a few minutes before halftime to notch her first career goal. Sophomore Kendra Madaras-Kelly did the same in the 68th minute when she connected with Megan McArthur to sneak a 12-yard shot into a bottom corner.
In all, the Raiders got off 34 shots – 19 of which came from the bench and 12 of which went on goal.
"We were very good with the ball and there was a lot of fluidity," SOU head coach Jon Clement said. "We got better as the game went along, too, which was good to see."
Freshman goalkeeper Kylie Moltzen didn't have to come up with a single save to get credit for her second shutout. The Raider defense sent Simpson (0-5) home without a shot.
"We spent a lot of time before the game talking about pressuring them early and creating an uncomfortable atmosphere," Clement said. "Our recovery running was great. Any time we gave the ball away we had a lot of numbers behind it."
The only other time the Raiders had gone unbeaten through the first three games of the season was last year, when they started 3-0-1.
To match or exceed that feat they'll have to get by The Master's on Thursday and 18th-ranked Westmont on Friday, both on the road.
"That'll be a monumental challenge," Clement said.