NEW YORK — Junior forward Kate Nolan (Perth, Australia) scored early and set up a late insurance tally as the Pratt Institute women's soccer team kicked off Atlantic East Conference play with a 2-0 victory over Gwynedd Mercy University on Saturday afternoon at Randall's Island Park.

Pratt (5-2-0, 1-0) jumped in front just over two minutes into the contest to grab the upper hand against Gwynedd Mercy (2-9-0, 0-1).

In the 3rd minute, Nolan made a long run up the left side of the pitch and drove a shot just inside the right post at 2:23 to stake the Cannoneers to an early 1-0 advantage that would stand as the game-winner.

The Griffins generated four corner kicks in the first half but were unable to test senior goalkeeper Savannah Depaz (Chapel Hill, N.C.) as the Cannoneer back line kept the chances to a minimum and didn't allow a shot on target.

Junior goalkeeper Angelina Perez (Jamaica, N.Y.) took over in goal for Pratt to begin the second half and was tested immediately as the Griffins looked to equalize. Perez turned aside all six shots on frame that came her way in the period, including five saves across a 12-minute span midway through the half to maintain the one-goal edge.

Pratt added an insurance goal late in the 80th minute. Nolan fired a shot from distance that Gwynedd Mercy goalkeeper Zoe Davis stopped, but junior Kemi Ayeni (Stockbridge, Ga.) pounced on the rebound near the goal line and tucked it home for her first collegiate goal.

Nolan paced the attack with a match-high eight shots, putting five on target. Sophomore midfielder Esme Falk (Oakland, Calif.) and sophomore defender Layan Reed (Boca Raton, Fla.) each placed a shot on goal.

Davis finished with seven saves in net for Gwynedd Mercy, while Sarah O'Neil and Bridget Cannon each registered two shots for the visitors.

Pratt outshot Gwynedd Mercy 15-9 overall and held a 9-6 advantage in shots on target. The Griffins finished with a 5-1 margin in corner kicks.

The Cannonneers travel to Morristown, N.J. face Saint Elizabeth University on Wednesday, October 7 in an Atlantic East Conference match starting at 3 p.m.