SALISBURY, N.C. - Senior Jessica Kleinberg scored the game-winning goal with just 26 seconds remaining in the first half, as the Anderson women's soccer team opened South Atlantic Conference action with a 1-0 shutout past host Catawba Saturday afternoon at Frock Field.

"Today's game was a great win for our girls. It was an ugly win but a good battle," said Anderson head coach Samar Azem. "Catawba is much improved over last year and it was a very evenly played game, with some tough outside variables to get past but our girls did well to score. It's always good win you start conference off with a win."

Anderson (3-2-1, 1-0 SAC) won its third decision in the last four outings, while Catawba (3-3, 0-1 SAC) had its win streak halted at four matches.

Kleinberg's game-winner was her second of the season, while freshman Heather Hooper garnered her first career assist on the play, which occurred at the 44:34 mark of the contest. The Trojan defense turned in another stellar performance, notching its fourth clean sheet of the season and 11th in the last 18 contests.

Catawba out-shot Anderson, 9-3, on the day and owned a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Neipp earned the win for the Trojans while going the distance between the pipes and recording a pair of saves and facing nine shots from the Indians. Catawba's Angelica Pawlowski absorbed the loss, while collecting one save on the afternoon.

"I am especially proud of some of our seniors for stepping up," added Azem. "Jess finally got the goal she was waiting for and Carrie did well close to the end to pressure their back line, and Adrienne, Ashley, and Joelle anchored us to get a shutout against a conference opponent. Summer also stood above and beyond today. We have to do better completing a game and we have to absolutely play better soccer, but at the end of the day the girls fought hard and we got the shutout win. As a coach, I'm happy for them. We are moving forward now."

Anderson returns to the friendly confines of Trojan Stadium for a pair of conference contests, beginning with Brevard on Wednesday. Kickoff versus the Tornados is slated for 2 p.m. in the opening match of a women's/men's doubleheader.