MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer coach Neil Cassidy knew the key to Tuesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener was getting off to a fast start.
 
Four goals in the game's first 36 minutes would certainly qualify for a fast start.
 
Unfortunately for Cassidy, it was the Auggies—not the Cardinals—who unveiled their high-powered offense early on Tuesday, as Augsburg erupted for four first-half goals and never looked back in dropping Saint Mary's 4-0 at Edor Nelson Field.
 
Olivia Muyres got the Auggies on the board in the eighth minute, taking a feed from Marie Fitzgerald and beating Saint Mary's goalkeeper Miranda Halling (Rochester, Minn.).
 
After assisting on the Auggies' first goal, Fitzgerald quickly jumped into the scoring column, netting back-to-back goals six minutes apart to push Augsburg's lead to 3-0 16 minutes into the first half.
 
Ashley Waalen also found the back of the net in the game's opening 45 minutes, as the Auggies took a four-goal advantage into the locker room at the break.
 
 The Cardinals held the Auggies scoreless over the game's final 57 minutes, but could not generate any offense of their own, as Augsburg made that 4-0 first-half advantage stand up in snapping its two-game losing streak.
 
Emma Schaefer (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) collected two of the Cardinals' four shots on goal, while Emily Loof (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Viv Johnson (Omaha, Neb.) accounted for the other two.
 
Halling finished with seven saves in goal for Saint Mary's, while Marissa Guillou and Lucy Bukowski combined on a four-save shutout for the Auggies (1-0-0 MIAC, 5-2-0 overall)

The Cardinals (0-1-0 MIAC, 2-3-0 overall) are back in action on Saturday, traveling to Northfield, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference showdown with Carleton at Bell Field.