WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University women's soccer program struck first but could not hold on as Chowan College took a 5-1 USA South victory Friday afternoon.

After more than a half hour of evenly matched play, Shenandoah (5-5 overall, 1-3 USA South) opened up the scoring when senior Stephanie Rush (Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania) found freshman Leanne Gibson (Woodbury, N.J./ West Deptford) streaking to the goal for a seven yard strike in the 38th minute.

The SU lead would be short-lived however as Chowan (5-6, 3-1) struck back in the 40th minute when sophomore Chtaura Jackson (Richmond, Va.) tied the game with an unassisted goal.

That goal from the Lady Braves opened up the floodgates as freshman Ashley Holt (Colonial Heights, Va.) and sophomore Dee Quinn (Worcester, Mass.) added tallies in the 42nd and 44th minutes, respectively, to take a 3-1 lead into the intermission.

Chowan went on to outshoot the Hornets 12-1 in the second half and added goals from junior Jessica Clover (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Quinn for the 5-1 victory.

A complete boxscore can be found at: http://www.su.edu/athletics/wsoc/2003/101003.htm

SU has a short turnaround before retaking the pitch Sunday afternoon at 1:00 when the Hornets host Peace College in a USA South matchup.