MARIETTA, Ohio — Sophomore midfielder Cara Nuss (Dayton, Carroll) scored a pair of early goals and assisted the third to lead the Marietta College women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over visiting Bluffton University in the first game of the 2009 Marietta Soccer Classic on Saturday (Sept. 5) morning at Marietta Field. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

The win improved the Pioneers' record to 2-0 and advanced them into Sunday (Sept. 6) afternoon's championship game against the winner of the College of Wooster versus St. Vincent (Pa.) College match-up, which will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Beavers fell to 1-1 and will play in the consolation game on Sunday at 9 a.m.

Marietta dominated the possession for most of the morning and out shot Bluffton 30-12 overall, including 16-7 in shots on goal.

Freshman defender Holly Simms (Pickerington, North) set up the first goal of the game in the 17th minute. Simms sent a ball forward to Nuss at the far post and Nuss took a touch and shot it around the keeper for her first goal of the season.

The PIoneers added to their lead in the 32nd minute. Sophomore forward Chelsea Hennen (Wheeling, W.Va., The Linsly School) crossed a ball from just outside the box to sophomore forward Christina Tirpak (Galena, Olentangy). Tirpak played the pass off her shoulder blades to the feet of Nuss, who finished the play off from three yards out to give Marietta a 2-0 advantage.

Nuss and Hennen teammed up on a corner kick in the 55th minute to extend the lead to 3-0. Nuss, who took the corner kick, found the Hennen just outside the 8-yard box and Hennen headed the ball inside the near post for the goal, her first of the season.

Bluffton cracked the scoreboard following a Marietta foul just outside the box in the 66th minute. Catie White took the ensuing free kick and bent it inside the near post for the goal.

Marietta senior Jenna Freeman (Bay Village, Bay) made six saves in the victory, while Molly Martin had 13 stops in the loss.