HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team opened the 2019 season with a tough 4-2 defeat to Notre Dame De Namur Thursday night inside Pioneer Stadium.
 
For the Pioneers, it was just the first year since 2015 that they began the season with a loss and move to 0-1 on the early stages of the season.
 
It was an action packed opening game of the season as both teams scoring two goals apiece before the halftime intermission. The Argonauts scored the first goal of the outing as Samantha Sanchez put in a shot in the 20th minute to give NDNU a 1-0 lead.
 
Just a few minutes later, the Pioneers scored their first goal of the 2019 season as junior Riley Spitzer turned in her first career goal as a Pioneer. Spitzer put in a shot on a well placed pass by senior Chace Miguel.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Jordan Smith got the start in the goalie box for the Pioneers and tallied a career best six saves through 90 minutes of action.
 
Late in the first half, Cal State East Bay took their only lead of the evening as junior connection of Lauren McDougal and Riley Spitzer made an appearance. McDougal scored her first goal on the year in the 41st minute as she put a Riley Spitzer pass into the back of the net.
 
Spitzer finished her first career game in Hayward with a goal and an assist. Lauren McDougal added a goal of her own and Chace Miguel compiled an assist.
 
But Notre Dame De Namur would respond with a goal of their own just before halftime to knot the game at 2-2 headed into the intermission. Ellie Mujushi scored a goal on an assist from Susan Whitney.
 
The game would be a back-and-forth affair in the second half as both teams traded shots and possession of the ball. It was not until midway through the final half of action the Notre Dame De Namur seized control of the game. The Argonauts notched two goals in the within five minutes of game time to pull off the 4-2 victory.
 
Susan Whitney scored the game-wining goal for NDNU on an assist from Reilly Paterson and then Vanessa Sanchez put in the final score of the night with the help of an assist from Susan Whitney.
 
Spitzer paced the Pioneers with four shot attempts, with three shots coming on goal. Senior Bri Vallente also compiled four shots with two shots on goal. Jill Nelsen and Abby Buitrago both added two shots apiece. Lauren McDougal and Annika Blom both attempted one shot each.
 
The Pioneers will return to action with another home match against a PacWest opponent with the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans coming to Pioneer Stadium on Monday, September 9 with kickoff schedule for a 1:00 pm start.