Head coach Jamie Burke knew her Keuka College women's soccer team would be tested during its 2012 season-opener against perennial power Houghton College.

While the Storm played solid defense at times against the potent Highlanders, who last year went 17-4-1 and advanced into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Soccer Championships for the ninth straight season, it wasn't enough.

Houghton (2-0) scored three first-half goals and added three tallies less than seven minutes apart early in the second for a 5-0 win over the Storm Saturday night at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex.

Houghton struck first in the third minute, but the Storm clamped down and limited the Highlanders over the next 18 minutes. But Houghton scored in the 21st and 39th minutes and the Highlanders' defense made things difficult on the Keuka attack, limiting the Green and Gold without a shot over the game's first 40 minutes.

Junior Jessica Bandrowski (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) had Keuka's best scoring opportunity in the 41st minute. Bandrowski got the ball 20 yards out, turned and fired a high-arching shot on goal that soared towards the far post, but into the arms of Susie Black, and the Storm never again threatened.

Sophomore Marriah Gough (Oneida, NY/Stockbridge Valley) stopped four shots in 46:23 while freshmanMaggie Tower (Waterville, NY/Home Schooled) made two saves in 43:37.

After facing Houghton, Burke's squad hits the road for a 2 p.m. non-conference game at Medaille College on Sunday. The Mavericks (8-11) lost in the semifinals of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's (AMCC) postseason tournament.

Keuka opens NEAC play with a pair of home games, taking on Penn State-Abington at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8, followed by a 1 p.m. clash with Penn State-Berks on Sept. 9.