DEFIANCE, Ohio — Marietta College women's soccer jumped out to a big lead and then held off a rally to claim a 3-2 victory over host Defiance College Saturday (Sept. 11) afternoon. The Pioneers gave Head Coach Jen Simonetti her first career coaching victory and improved to 1-3. The Yellow Jackets fell to 1-2. [Box Score]

Senior defender #Marsha Hupp (Katy, Texas/Cinco Ranch)# put Marietta on the board following a corner kick in the 7th minute. Junior midfielder #Cara Nuss (Dayton/Carroll)# sent the kick into the box. Defiance tried to clear the ball but it found the foot of Hupp, who took a touch and fired a shot with her left foot from the top of the box that found its way inside the far post for the goal.

Junior midfielder #Danielle Staub (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet Regional)# put the Pioneers ahead by two goals with an unassisted goal from the top of the box in the 15th minute.

Junior midfielder #Tessa Harlow (Whitehouse/Anthony Wayne)# extended Marietta's lead to three goals in the 55th minute. She gained possession of the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and beat the keeper with shot.

Defiance fought back into the game with goals in the 79th and 81st minute, but the Pioneer defense regrouped and they held on for the 3-2 win.

Marietta out shot Defiance 19-8 and held a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Sophomore keeper #Kelly Sommers (Shaker Heights/Shaker Heights)# made two saves in the complete-game victory.

The Pioneers are back in action Sunday (Sept. 12) afternoon when they play host to Bethany College in another non-conference match-up at Marietta Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. WMRT-FM 88.3 will broadcast the game locally and online at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/stream.asx.