GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College entered Saturday's Midwest Conference women's soccer opener with 24 wins in 26 outings in its series with Beloit College.
 
The Pioneers made sure that trend continued as they rolled to a 5-3 victory over the Buccaneers at Springer Field.
 
Simona Bambi '20 had two goals for the Pioneers, who are 3-4 overall, while Valencia Alvarez '20, Kitt Richards '18 and Jordan Maddaus '19 had one apiece as Grinnell led 4-1 at intermission. With the loss, Beloit fell to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
 
Bambi put Grinnell ahead just a minute-and-a-half into the game, scoring a goal on an assist by Maddaus. On the play, Maddaus had the ball above the box and fired to Bambi, who scored. It was the first assist of the year for Maddaus and first goal by Bambi.
 
Beloit scored in the second minute, but the Pioneers got goals in the 13th and 21st minutes to take command. Alvarez scored her third goal of the season in the 13th minute, and Bambi scored in the 21st minute when she took a nice pass from Francesca Varias '18 and chipped it high into the net. It was the first assist of the year for Varias.
 
Grinnell went up 4-1 in the 33rd minute when Richards broke free for an open shot and delivered into the net for her first goal of the year.
 
Beloit scored in the 75th minute, but the Pioneers countered in the 84th on Maddaus' second goal of the season. On the play, Issy Schwiebert '21 passed to Maddaus ahead of two defenders. Maddaus got the ball, and as the goal keeper came out, fired it into the net. It was Schwiebert's first assist of the season.
 
Beloit finished the scoring in the 85th minute.
 
Grinnell dominated the shots battle 29-7, with Alvarez taking six, Maddaus five and Bambi and Richards three each.
 
Grinnell keeper Regan Kasprak '19 made four saves while playing most of the contest.
 
The Pioneers have another big MWC contest Sunday when Lake Forest College visits Springer Field for an 11 a.m. affair.