Lourdes scored three times in the first 27 minutes of the season opener at Point Park on Saturday on the way to defeating the Pioneers 3-2 at Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis, Pa.
 
"This was a competitive game and for being the season opener for both teams neither side was perfect," head coach Matt Johnson said afterwards.  "I was pleased with how we attacked as a group.  We did a good job with chance creation and our effort was strong.  Getting a win on the road against a quality opponent is a satisfying way to open the season."
 
The Gray Wolves wasted little time finding the back of the net, taking advantage of a corner kick 12 minutes into the match.  Savio Adams (Cape Town, South Africa/Zeekoevlei H.S.) sent the corner in to Brendon Long (Cave Creek, Ariz./Cactus Shadows H.S.) who headed in the first goal of the year. 
 
Mitchell Roell tied the match at one four minutes later, as the Pioneers converted off a corner kick of their own. 
 
Adams put Lourdes in front for good with a goal of his own at the 23:49 mark, receiving a cross from Andris Klempert (Hamburg, Germany/Stadtteilschule Walddorfer H.S.) and volleying the ball into the back of the net.  Just 2:32 later, Adams connected with Long again from the corner as the duo made it 3-1 Gray Wolves.  Both fifth-year seniors, Long entered the contest with one career goal before his two-goal match while Adams had just one career assist for the Gray Wolves prior to Saturday's two helpers.
 
Geert Bijl cut the Gray Wolf deficit to one, 3-2, after converting a penalty kick following a foul in the box with 10 minutes to play before halftime, but that would be the final tally of the match.
 
Point Park (0-1) had several chances over the final 45 minutes to tally the equalizer while Lourdes had several opportunities of its own to extend its lead, but neither team found the back of the goal in the second half.
 
Lourdes finished the match with a 26-14 shot advantage after firing off 16 shot attempts in the opening stanza.  Ali Chokr (Bint Jbail, Lebanon/Fontainebleau [La.] H.S.) made five saves in net for the Gray Wolves while Sean O'Hea made nine stops between the posts for the Pioneers.  In a match with numerous corner kick opportunities, several of which were converted, Point Park finished with an 8-7 edge.
 
With the victory, Lourdes improves to 5-1-1 all-time in season openers.  The win, coupled with a triumph in the season finale one year ago, gives Lourdes its first back-to-back victories since winning three straight matches Sept. 17-27, 2017.
 
Lourdes (1-0) will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Gray Wolves travel to Rio Grande, Ohio to face Rio Grande.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Evan Davis Soccer Field.