ALEXANDRIA, La. – A pair of goals from both Sofia Jimeno Nogué and Ksenija Pavlovic lifted the Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's soccer team (1-0-0) to a 4-2 victory over Texas Wesleyan University (0-1-0).
 
LSUA out shot the Rams 14-9, taking seven shots in each half. They edged the Rams in shots on goal 5-4.
 
"Happy with the result," LSUA Head Coach Mark Hammond said. "It's always to score goals at home to open up the season."
 
The Generals found themselves with an early opportunity when Pavlovic was dragged down in the box. Jimeno Nogue took fired the penalty into the upper left corner, giving LSUA a 1-0 advantage in the third minute.
 
A chance from Texas Wesleyan's Mikayla Trevino went wide right in the sixth minute, the first opportunity for the Rams.
 
LSUA didn't have to wait long to find an insurance marker. Pavlovic took in a pass from Micaela Nunes and fired it past the keeper for a 2-0 lead just seven minutes in. The goal was Pavolvic's first LSUA marker.
 
"[Ksjenija] has been a great addition to the squad," Hammond added. "That's two penalties she's won for us. Her soccer IQ is fantastic and I think that's why she's winning those fouls. She shows some really good composure."
 
Elke Tijink had a near miss in the 16^th minute, putting a shot just wide. Another near miss for the Generals came in the 21^st minute, when Pavolic rang a shot off the crossbar. LSUA rang a second shot off the crossbar in the 28^th minute on a shot from Tijink.
 
Hille Baumfalk sent a headed effort just right of the net in the 29^th minute, before Pavlovic had a shot blocked in the 32^nd minute.
 
Texas Wesleyan found their second shot of the night in the 33^rd minute on an effort from Alexa Bezpalko.
 
Victoria Weber was called into action for the first time near the waning minutes of the opening stanza. She turned away a chance from Bezpalko to keep the 2-0 score intact at halftime. Weber finished with two saves.
 
Nearly 10 minutes into the second half, the Rams found the score sheet. Bezpalko notched a penalty goal to cut the Generals' lead to 2-1.
 
Weber stymied an effort from Trevino in the 63^rd minute, preserving the slim LSUA lead.
 
Jimeno Nogue was called to the spot again in the 69^th minute and struck true for the second time, pushing the Generals' lead to 3-1.
 
In the 72^nd minute, the Generals struck again. Alexia Bermejo Jo found Pavolvic on a through pass and Pavlovic slotted it to the left of the keeper for a 4-1 Generals advantage.
 
The Rams cut the score to 4-2 in the 76^th minute with a goal from Kayannah Moore, but LSUA's defense held Texas Wesleyan in check. The Generals allowed just one shot in the final 13 minutes of play.
 
LSUA is back in action on Saturday, August 24, as they host the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) at 11:00 AM on the Generals Soccer Field.