CHICAGO, Ill. -- The University of Chicago women's soccer team kicked off its 2013 campaign with a 2-0 home victory over North Park University on Friday.

The Maroons, who enter the season ranked No. 25 in the NSCAA top 25 preseason poll, are now 19-2-2 in season-opening games under Head Coach Amy Reifert.

UChicago got its first good chance at a goal in the 30th minute. Sara Kwan sent a nifty pass into space for Natalia Jovanovic, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, NPU's Paola Andrade came up with the clutch save.

The Maroons started to get their feel on offense as the first half went on, but the two sides went into halftime knotted at zero. That building momentum paid off for UChicago in the 49th minute. The home team was awarded an indirect kick in the box and Jovanovic's quick pass found Naomi Pacalin, who netted the first goal of the season.

North Park hung close throughout and began to manufacture better opportunities on the counter attack. Meanwhile, the Maroons struggled with clearances and their connecting passes started getting picked off by the opportunistic Vikings. In the 77th minute, NPU's Emma Lundeen broke off a long run of 40 yards in space and put a point-blank shot on goal. But UChicago goalie Mallory Morse cut the angle and smothered the attempt to preserve the lead.

Kwan added the insurance score in the 82nd minute with a glancing shot that trickled past the diving goalie and just made it across the goal line. Pacalin picked up the assist on the play.

UChicago led the shots total 14-12 and had seven corner kicks compared to one by North Park. Morse (1-0-0) tallied four saves in 90 minutes to get the shutout victory.