Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne University Women?s Soccer Team (8-1) won its seventh straight match on Wednesday night at the Moretz Sports ? Athletic Complex as it knocked off Clayton State University (1-5), 2-0.? The victory marks the Bears? fifth shutout of the 2009 campaign while team is now off to its best nine-match start in school history.

L-R opened the scoring at the 22:16 mark when freshman midfielder Elizabeth Hawes (Valdese, N.C.) took the ball down the left side with speed, turned the corner and served a gift onto the right foot of sophomore forward Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.), who punched in her eighth goal of the year.

At the 31:16 mark, Hawes picked up an errant clear from Clayton State 40 yards from goal, blew past the last Laker defender and drove a knuckler by the goalkeeper 15 yards out.? The goal, Hawes? team-leading ninth of the year, stretched the lead to 2-0.

The first-half scoring was all L-R would need as neither team scored after intermission despite 14 shots for the Bears.

Senior Katelyn Burwell (Carthage, N.C.) made four saves in goal to pick up the win and her second shutout of the year.? Clayton State?s Dominique Trappio was busy in net for Clayton State as she made 12 saves despite the setback.

L-R hits the road this coming Saturday to take on Carson-Newman in a South Atlantic Conference match in Jefferson City, Tenn.? The Eagles are 8-0 on the year.? Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.