NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The 2021 spring soccer season kicked off on Tuesday (Mar. 2) and the Franklin women's soccer team began their fixture schedule with a matchup against the Manchester Spartans.

A first half flurry proved to be the difference as Franklin (1-0) scored three times in the opening half and stifled the Manchester (0-1) attack on their way to a 4-0 opening day win.

How it Happened
Freshman Katelyn Duff provided the ice-breaker, taking a through ball from Lilly Haines down the left wing and beating Manchester keeper Cate Bennett in the ninth minute. Duff would double her goal total in the 27th minute, sending a shot just inside the left post to make it 3-0 Grizzlies.

Sophomore Elaina Page put the Spartans in a two-goal hole with her 20th minute tally. Last year's leading goal scorer streaked down the left side before tucking a shot just inside the far post. Fellow sophomore Erin Thomas added an insurance goal in the 55th minute, burying a Lilly Haines feed for her fourth career tally.

Inside the Box Score
-Haines recorded her second career multi-point game and first career multi-assist outing.
-Duff and Page tied for the team lead with three shot attempts each.
-Brianna Rogers made her second career start in goal and needed to make just one save for her first career clean sheet.
-Seven Grizzlies made their first career appearance in the blue and gold: Duff, Kaitlyn Hewett, Jada Tooley, Kinsey Price, Allison Davis, Sydney Pitts and Zoe Simmons.
-Shots were 10-2 in Franklin's favor on the night.

Next Up
The Grizzlies are off until next Wednesday (Mar. 10), when they hit the road to face the Rose-Hulman Engineers. Start time from Terre Haute is set for 7:00 p.m.