FULTON, Mo. – Augustana got goals from junior Karissa Gottardo (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) and senior Anna Fank (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) Saturday to defeat Westminster 2-0 at Blue Jay Stadium. Coach Scott Mejia's side improved to 2-0 on the season, while the hosts fell to 0-3.
 
The Vikings pressured early, getting off five shots in the first 15 minutes. Junior Grace Sigler (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.), who had a hat trick in the team's season opener, put a pair of headers on frame, but both were turned away by Blue Jay keeper Sarah Cradick.
 
In minute 20, Gottardo parlayed Lauren Muzzalupo's (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) third assist of the season into a goal and a 1-0 Augustana lead.
 
That's the way the first half would end, as the Vikings outshot their hosts 8-7, with a 4-1 edge in shots on goal.
 
Cradick kept the Blue Jays within striking distance, stopping four Augustana shots in the second half, including another Sigler header in the 50th minute and consecutive Gabriela Arreguin (Beloit Memorial HS, Beloit, Wis.) tries near the 73-minute mark.
 
In the 76th minute, an Allison Harvey (Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Wheaton, Ill.) corner led to Fank's goal and a 2-0 advantage for the visitors.
 
Mejia's defense handled it from there, holding Westminster to just one second-half shot attempt and none in the final 30 minutes. Keeper Sydney Ion's (Aquinas HS, La Crosse, Wis.) only save came in the first half.
 
The Vikings finished with a 17-8 margin in shots, including 9-1 in shots on goal. Augustana took six corners to four for the Blue Jays and committed 10 fouls to eight for the hosts.
 
Cradick finished with seven saves.
 
Next up for the Vikings is a home date versus Wisconsin-Platteville on Wednesday, September 11. Kickoff at Thorson-Lucken Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.