Coach Sean Esterhuizen's Clarke University women's soccer team opened the 2010 campaign on the right note Wednesday. Clarke junior Kelsey Gleich, of Cottage Grove, Minn., tallied an unassisted goal at the 50:20 mark to lift the host Crusaders to a 1-0 win over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and allow them to capture the Mississippi Cup, awarded to the winner of each Clarke-UW-Platteville meeting.
Clarke outshot the visiting Pioneers 11-7. Gleich had three shots, including two shots on goal.
Clarke's Bekah Willich (So., Davenport, Iowa) had three shots on goal for the Crusaders.
UWP goalkeeper Kaitlyn Wiedeman had five saves for the Pioneers (0-1).
Clarke will host Lawrence University at 3 p.m. on Saturday before playing a 5 p.m. match Sunday at UW-Whitewater.