HARRISONBURG, Va. – The 2012 season started for the Gallaudet University women's soccer team Friday night under the lights on the road against Eastern Mennonite University. The two teams played a scoreless first half before they combined for five goals in the final 25 minutes of play.

Gallaudet scored two of the first three goals in a three-minute stretch to take a 2-1 lead before it allowed back-to-back goals, within two minutes, late in the game to lose 3-2 before a crowd of 173.

Junior midfielder Monique Balcarcel (Lansing, Mich.) ended the scoreless affair when she knocked in a goal in the 65th minute off an assist from senior Maddie Morgan (Hockessin, Del.). EMU (1-0) answered with an unassisted goal by Morgan Hill in the 68th minute. The Bison (0-1), responded 32 seconds later, when freshman Louisenie Philostin (Orlando, Fla.) netted her first collegiate goal. Philostin sent a shot past Royals' goalie Becca Borg (four saves) to push the Bison back in front.

The game marked the return of senior goalie Kara Gulvas (Crown Point, Ind.) after she suffered a season ending injury at the end of the 2010 season. Gulvas was unflappable in the first half as she made 10 of her 13 saves. Eastern Mennonite outshot Gallaudet 15-1 in the first half and 12-5 in the second half.

Two of those final 12 shots in the second half got by Gulvas as Nora Osel scored both goals in the 79th and 81st minute, respectively, to secure the win for the Royals.

The Bison will look to bounce back with another non-conference game in the state of Virginia when Gallaudet travels to face Randolph College on Sunday, Sept. 1, at Noon.