ROCHESTER, N.Y. – No moment has been too big for the Roberts Wesleyan College women's soccer team this season.
Freshman Ella White and junior Gabrielle Ciambella scored second-half goals as the Redhawks won their fourth straight game to start the season, defeating Bluefield State College 2-0 in their home opener before an enthusiastic crowd Saturday at Roberts Stadium.
"You only have one home opener each season and this was it and we took advantage of it," Roberts coach Sarah McClellan said.
The Redhawks won their 11^th straight regular-season match and have not lost in the regular season since last Sept. 29 at Daemen.
"It's awesome," sophomore captain Maia LaVigne said. "We have been working really hard."
"It feels great," Ciambella said. "I am really proud of us and the leadership we have on this team. … The bench and the crowd definitely helped us to get our energy up. We play hard no matter what, but all of the enthusiasm certainly helped."
The Redhawks generated some early chances but were unable to convert and the game remained scoreless well into the second half.  
Freshman defender Cassidy Pearce was taken down in the box while battling for possession of the ball with 23:53 to play and the Redhawks called on White to take the penalty kick and she calmly delivered, banking her shot off the right post and in for her second game-winner of the week.
"Honestly, it was kind of a blur," said White, who leads Roberts with four goals this season. "I just walked up with my shoulders back and my head high. … I have taken a lot of PKs with my club team and in practice and I knew what I wanted to do."  
Ciambella gave the Redhawks some breathing room when she stepped into a misplayed clearing attempt  at the top of the Bluefield State box and sent it high into the far corner with 12:04 to play for her third goal of the season.
Junior Nicolette Knauf two saves to register her second shutout of the season.
Eighteen Redhawks logged at least 16 minutes in the game which helped Roberts continue to apply pressure throughout the contest.
"We've had excellent depth," McClellan said. "Every player that we have asked to put in minutes has done a good job."
The Redhawks return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday against Saint Thomas Aquinas College in their East Coast Conference opener.
"This week of training is going to be extremely important," McClellan said. "We will push the reset button a little bit and work on some things to prepare us for conference play."