Defense wins championships is a mantra echoed in lockers across the country with the beginning of every athletic season and soccer is certainly no different.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs finished off itse opening weekend with one of the most impressive displays of defense in school history, holding Northern State to just a single shot for the entire match as it defeated the Wolves 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Mountain Lion Stadium.

It was the second-fewest shots ever allowed by a UCCS soccer team. The Mountain Lions held McMurray without a shot on Sept. 10, 2010 and limited Nebraska-Kearney to only two shots on Oct. 30, 2009.

The UCCS forwards pummeled Northern State keeper Shaina Stein all game to the tune of 22 shots, 9 of which were on goal. Creating corners was also one of the Mountain Lions specialties Sunday as they enjoyed a lop-sided 12-1 margin over the Wolves in that department. 

"We're very pleased with the way we played," said UCCS coach Nichole Ridenour. "We're happy that we could move the ball around, find the net a little bit and get the corners that we were looking for. We always want to create chances and corners are great for that."

While the first-half saw a Hannah Rather goal called back with an offside call, the Mountain Lions continued to bombard Northern State in the second-half, breaking through in the 55th minute with a long distance strike from Ashley Hooper that soared to the back corner of the net over the out-stretched hand of the Wolves' keeper Stein.

Subsequent goals by Agnes Arnadottir and Candice Buckles sealed the deal late for UCCS who now sits at 2-0 on the young season. 

Arnadottir's goal came off a hard strike from 25 yards in the 78th minute while Buckles' goal in the 89th minute was set-up by Alexis Michaelkovich following a struggle for the ball in front of the Northern State net.

Leading the defensive charge for the Mountain Lions was the steady voice of Lindsay Link. Link's senior leadership was evident as the visiting Wolves struggled all game to break through to the Mountain Lions side of the field.

"We have a senior captain (Link) leading the back-line who is great at communicating and demanding what she wants done, which creates confidence and calmness in the back and that translates right to our center-mids with Meghan Royer, Agnes Arnadottir, Ashley Hooper and Mckenzie Genin," said Ridenour. "All those girls really get into the flow of the game because the feel confident that they have a defensive-line behind them who knows what they're doing, they know where they're at and they know where they're supposed to be."

UCCS goalkeeper Kelly Schroeder had no problems with the Wolves' lone shot as she recorded one save on the way to her fifth career shutout.

After two games, UCCS owns a 7-1 scoring margin over their opponents to go along with a stingy defense that has allowed only five shot attempts in two matches.

The Mountain Lions have one final tune-up before conference play begins with a match at home against Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. Sept 11 at Mountain Lion Stadium.