PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's soccer team was upended by Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opponent and crosstown rival Holy Family, 1-0, in the season opener Thursday afternoon on Ravenhill Field.

The Rams and Tigers--who were ranked first and second, respectively, in the CACC preseason coaches poll—played a very defensive first half with both teams attempting just four shots each.

Despite the low shot total, Philadelphia's Courtney Shaw (Langhorne, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) and Holy Family's Sienna Smith had to make two saves in the opening 45 minutes to get the match scoreless at the half.

Shaw—who had two saves—was called upon at the 8:32 mark to make a sprawling stop and deny Jenna Richards from the right corner of the 6-yard box to keep the visitors off the board.

Philadelphia's best chance of the first half came off the right foot of Andi Neski (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Ossining) with 7:03 remaining. Neski, who entered the match eight minutes earlier, ran by two Tiger defenders and took a shot from the right corner of the penalty area that sailed just over the crossbar.

Holy Family broke the scoreless deadlock on Brianna Rock's first collegiate goal with 9:22 gone in the second half. The Rams turned the ball over to Taylor Adair in an attempt to clear it out of their third and then promptly found Rock at the top of the penalty arc. Rock's left-footed shot deflected off of a Philadelphia defender and into the goal.

The Rams came back with a chance with just under 16 minutes remaining. Alex Reyes (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) forced Smith, who finished with four saves, to make a diving save with a point-blank shot. The rebound fell to Carla Chmielewski (Glassboro, N.J./Paul VI), but she put her attempt over the bar.

Philadelphia owned a 12-11 shot advantage.

The Rams return to action with a non-conference home match against Queens (N.Y.) on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. on Ravenhill Field.