MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – It was a tough North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) opener for the Gallaudet University women's soccer team as they suffered an 8-0 loss to the hands of Penn St.-Harrisburg on the road Saturday.

Gallaudet (0-4, 0-1 NEAC) was only able to get off three shots against the stout Nittany Lion defense as Penn St.-Harrisburg (2-0, 1-0) pelted the Bison goal with 35 shots. Senior goalie Casey McCullough (Oceanside, Calif.) was able to make 13 saves but allowed eight goals.

The Nittany Lions were led by Kara Hoy and Nikki Francis as the pair scored two goals and one assist each. Hoy scored back-to-back goals in the 26th and 32nd minute as the Lions led 4-0 at halftime. In the second half, Francis scored two goals, the first was assisted by Hoy, and her last came on a penalty kick. GU allowed two penalty kick goals in the game.

The Bison got shots from junior Maggie Hoyt (Edgecomb, Maine) and sophomores Lauren Sprague (Grafton, Mass.) and Lauren Hostovsky (Medfield, Mass.).

It's been a rough start to the season for the Bison as they have been shut out twice and outscored 20-2 in four games. This is the second straight year the Lions scored eight goals against the Bison as Penn St.-Harrisburg won 8-1 last season.

GU will aim to end the skid on Wednesday, September 21, against Marymount (Va.) University in a non-conference game on the road at 7:30 p.m.