The Emory University Women's Soccer team started the 2016 season off on the right foot on Thursday afternoon as the Eagles dominated Averett University from the opening kickoff en route to a 7-0 victory at the OrthoCarolina Sports Complex in Charlotte, NC.

Six different Eagles registered a goal and the Eagles outshot the Cougars 48-1, including a 26-0 margin in shots on goal, in the seven-goal win. The 48 shots were the seventh most totaled by an Emory team in program history and the Eagles did not allow a shot by Averett until 10 minutes into the second half.

Junior Melissa Ardizzone began the scoring just 2:46 into the contest, converting a penalty kick after getting taken down inside the 18-yard box. Classmate Anna Gurney made it 2-0 later in the first half as she put one in the back of the net after stealing a pass from the Averett keeper.

Following halftime, the Eagles netted an additional five goals with freshman Caroline Kolski opening the scoring in the second stanza in the 64^th minute with close range goal off the feed of fellow freshman Shivani Beall. Kolski had an impressive debut with the Eagles as she led the team with nine shots with five being on target.

Emory tacked on three more goals in the span of two minutes and 24 seconds as sophomore Danielle Darius knocked in a loose ball with a slide right in front of the Cougars' keeper. Just moments later, senior Cristina Ramirez scored her first goal of the year, finding the netting from 10 yards out on the dish from sophomore Grace Edgarton. Averett did not do themselves any favors as they let in an own goal in the 74^th minute.

Edgarton provided the finishing touch with her first marker in 2016 after beating a Cougars defender and scoring from close range in the 87^th minute.

Sophomore Dani Staffin tallied her first career victory between the posts, going 72:17 scoreless minutes in goal. Freshman Haley Pratt closed out the contest, playing the final 17:43 in front of her hometown fans.

Emory will have a quick turnaround as the team heads to California this weekend to face California Lutheran and the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA on Sunday and Monday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM eastern time.