A year ago, the Salisbury girls soccer team suffered a loss and tie in its annual season-opening soccer tournament.

But a year later, the results were vastly different under second-year head coach Rick Babyak.

After opening up the tournament on Friday with a 2-1 victory over East Pennsboro, Saturday evening's 2-0 win against Pocono Mountain East at Salisbury High School ended the Lady Falcons' tourney run with a perfect slate.

"It's a good place to be," said Babyak. "This is going to help us later in the season that we got these two victories [and] four points in both games. It's going to help us immensely as we go, because the season is going to be tough as we go."

"It's a great start to the season," said senior Christine Kotch. "Usually we're a little shaky in the beginning, but I think we have a strong team this year and we really have the potential to keep it going."

During their finale, Kotch gave the Falcons an early 1-0 lead against the Cardinals that would ultimately hold up as the game-winner.

Stationed outside the 18-yard mark, Kotch settled the ball, squared up and fired a shot toward the top of the goal for an early 1-0 lead.

"I do usually have higher shots," she said. "I had to really focus to keep it down. I was just really trying to help out my team and do it for them, and just keep my aim on frame."

Kotch will certainly have a hand in the Falcons' scoring this season, as seen by her early goal against the Cardinals. Babyak, however, had high praise for his senior midfielder on the defensive side.

"She's so strong in the middle," said Babyak of Kotch. "She's so physical out there. I'd match her up against any soccer player out there in the Valley right now defensively.

"But what she's developing now is also her offensive game from that position. She's finding the seams, getting some shots on goal, and she had a beautiful goal today."

Midway through the second half, sophomore Sarah Reilly fired a shot into the goal's left corner to put the Falcons up 2-0.

While the Falcons had a solid run to start the season, it may have come at a price. One Falcon goalkeeper, senior Shannon Pennella, suffered an elbow injury early in the second half and failed to return to the game. Junior Mackenzie Groff also went down late in the game with an ankle injury.

Senior Katelyn Bucchin and sophomore Emily Batman tallied goals in the victory over East Pennsboro.

The Falcons' league opener against Northern Lehigh was scheduled for Tuesday. Results were not available at time of press. The Lady Falcons host Catasauqua on Thursday at 7 p.m.