Rio Grande --- The fourth-ranked University of Rio Grande RedStorm men's soccer team shook off a somewhat lackluster first half to gain a 2-0 victory over visiting Houghton College in the lid lifter to the 2010 season on Wednesday evening at Evan Davis Field.

Rio Grande (1-0) took a 1-0 lead in the 20^th minute when newcomer Roberto Lopes (Sao Paulo, Brazil) notched the first goal of the season with a header off a nice feed from Joel Thiessen (Newcastle, Australia). 

Houghton (0-1) put pressure on the Rio defense throughout the first half and missed on a pair of golden chances, including one shot caroming off the cross bar that would have tied the score. 

After halftime, Rio Grande tightened up its play and put the game away with a key insurance goal in the 81^st minute on a tremendous play by senior forward Ederson Lopes (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Sophomore Brandon Tyler (Phoenix, AZ) gave Lopes the feed and he found the back of the net with an impressive header to make the score 2-0. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi (Ottawa, Canada) collected the shutout in his first collegiate start. Viscosi notched three saves on the night. Houghton goalkeeper Steve Zacchinga posted two saves.

"Even though we were up 1-nil at halftime, it could have easily been 2-1 Houghton," said Rio Grande head coach Scott Morrissey. "We didn't do a good job defensively marking up on any of the dead balls in the first half. I think we sorted it out in the second half and we really eliminated the number of dead ball chances that they had." (The Highlanders had only one shot in the second half after getting off six attempts prior to the break). 

"Make no mistake about it, they have a very good team," Morrissey added. "They certainly played well. I was happy with how we responded in the second half." 

"It was a good game, it's always a great game with Houghton and no matter what, it's always going to be a tight one," Morrissey said. "It was a good result for us." 

Rio Grande will now get ready for back-to-back contests this weekend with Grace College and Spring Arbor in the D. Wayne Evans Classic. "I thought we used players well, we used them in the right manor knowing that we've got to come back in 48 hours and play and then again in 24 hours after that and play, so it was important that we get guys minutes," Morrissey said. 

Rio Grande will face Grace College on Friday night. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. Notre Dame College, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA pre-season Top 25 rating, will play Spring Arbor University at 4:30 p.m.