ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jeff Vieira could not have been more pleased with the outcome of his first match as head coach of the Roberts Wesleyan University women's soccer team.
"We were solid defensively, we didn't give up anything that was really dangerous, we played to the style that I have been coaching and we had two fantastic, highlight-reel goals," Vieira said after the Redhawks earned a 2-0 victory over Lake Erie College in their season opener on Thursday.
Ella White and Alyssa Hackett both delivered spectacular strikes and Nicolette Knauf made eight saves to earn the shutout for the Redhawks.
"Those weren't muck goals," Vieira said. "Nobody was stopping those two goals."
White opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a shot from the top of the box. Senior Maia LaVigne carried the ball down the right side into the box. Her shot deflected off a defender and the ball came directly to White, who sent a 22-yard laser just below the crossbar.
"Honestly, it was kind of a blur," White said. "As soon as the ball came to me, it was just a nice ball on the ground and I was thinking 'I'm going to place it.' We have been working on balls driven into the box and placing them and I just tried to remember to lock in and just do what we've been practicing. I tried to just put it on frame and I put it in."
The goal was particularly pleasing for White, who scored 12 as a freshman but was limited to two last season.
"It felt really good," White said. "I felt like it was a long time coming."
It also came after she made the move from forward to midfield over the summer.
"She's a dangerous player, she's a smart player, she's a leader," Vieira said. "She needs to be in the midfield. When she is in the midfield, she can lead and she can get the finish like she did on that first goal today."
Hackett's goal was equally impressive. The junior transfer from Saint Peter's University made a stop-and-go move at the top of the box and fired a left-footed shot into the right side of the goal with 13 minutes to play.
"I kind of took her on and then, when I saw an opening, I cut in and then cut back outside and faked a shot," Hackett said.  "Then I saw that the center of the goal was open and just went far post."
Hackett, who was an impact performer all evening, nearly opened the scoring in the 10^th minute, clanking a shot off the crossbar.
"She's like a spark plug out there," Vieira said. "She's got a lethal left foot and she finally got a chance with it and put it away."
 She also secured NCAA Division II victory No. 1 for Vieira, who has coached for 20 years, including the last six at Roberts as the top assistant for former coach Sarah McClellan. Vieira was named head coach in August after McClellan accepted the head coaching position at Kenyon College.
"I always thought that I could do this job and to basically change the whole style of play in two weeks and get a result – that's not easy," Vieira said. "It means a lot to me to get this opportunity. I want to thank (Executive Director of Athletics) Bob Segave, I want to thank Sarah McClellan, who I worked with for six years, and I just could not be happier about starting out this way."
The victory was popular with the Redhawk players, too.
"I am so proud of Jeff," White said. "I loved him as a coach last year and I love him as a coach this year. I am so proud of him and I can't wait to see what he does with us this season."
The Redhawks return to action at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday against Ohio Dominican at Roberts Stadium.