BEXLEY, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team fell to Capital University 4-2 in the two teams' Ohio Athletic Conference opener inside Bernlohr Stadium.

Capital (7-2, 1-0 OAC) went on the attack early, taking the first shot on goal just 48 seconds into the game. Although the second Crusader shot went wide right, the third did not miss its target as Capital took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. The next 15 minutes passed rather uneventfully with a flurry of fouls until the Crusaders scored their second goal in the 25th minute. Meanwhile, BW (6-3-1, 0-1 OAC) struggled to find any rhythm on offense and went shotless in the first period.

In the second half, senior three-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC forward Rachel Bender (Massillon/Jackson) was finally able to break through the Capital defense and get BW on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the 52nd minute. The Crusaders responded well, regaining a two-goal lead less than three minutes later, but the Yellow Jackets would not go down without a fight. Sophomore midfielder Cydney Granneman (Avon, Ind.) assisted on Bender's second goal of the game in the 66th minute, bringing the Yellow Jackets within one goal of the lead once again. Capital continued the back-and-forth nature of the second half, answering BW's goal to take a 4-2 lead in the 72nd minute. The Yellow Jackets had a few more opportunities to even things up but the best came off the foot of junior defender Kenna Poptic (Dublin/Jerome) when she hit the crossbar in the 86th minute.

Junior Academic All-OAC goalkeeper Emma Bruno (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park) made four saves in the loss. After being outshot in the first half, BW competed in the second half as shots were even at six apiece. For the game, Capital had the advantage 14-6 in shots, 8-2 in shots on goal and 6-4 in corner kicks.

BW will hit the road again on Wednesday, Oct. 3, for an OAC game with Ohio Northern University at 7 p.m. inside Kerscher Stadium.