NORTON, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Women's Soccer team knocked off Wheaton College, ranked No. 16 overall in the National Soccer Coaches Association Of America (NSCAA) Preseason Poll, with a 2-1 victory Friday afternoon.

Hawks' sophomore midfielder Jessica Valenti (North Reading, Mass.) factored into both goals late in the second half to guide Roger Williams to its first season opening victory since 2007. The win is the first for RWU over Wheaton since 3-2 overtime win back in 1993.

Sophomore Julia Cipriano (Middlebury, Conn.) gave the Lyons an early 1-0 lead sniping a shot from the right corner of the box into the lower left corner of the net at 16:35. Sophomore Julie Beyar (South Hempstead, N.Y.) set up the tally working the ball up the right flank before hitting Cipriano with a through ball near the top of the box.

Wheaton's 1-0 advantage held true until the 69th minute of the contest when Valenti buried a strike into the lower left corner after corralling a loose ball from about 25-yards out. Valenti set up the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute finding sophomore forward Mariah Kaiser (Portsmouth, R.I.) in the box on a cross from the right wing. Kaiser headed home her first goal of the season and seventh overall in her career.

The Hawks outshot Wheaton, 12-9, in the game, while the Lyons held a 4-1 advantage in corners.

Roger Williams senior goalkeeper Stephanie Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) stopped three shots in net. Wheaton sophomore goalkeeper Ali Hinton (Lafayette, Colo.) made one save, while classmate Taylor Wilson (Bellingham, Mass.) turned away two shots.

Wheaton hosts No.2 Emory University on Sunday at 1 p.m. in its next scheduled contest. The Eagles, who return 20 student-athletes from last year's squad, lost to Messiah, 1-0, in the NCAA Tournament national championship game in 2012. Roger Williams hosts Rhode Island College on Tuesday, September 3 at 4 p.m.

- Release courtesy of the Wheaton College Sports Information Department