Urbana 's midfielders rarely let a ball get onto their end of the field early, but at the 12:30 mark in the first half Semret Seyoum headed an indirect kick into the bottom-right corner of the goal past Caroline Browning to take a 1-0 lead.

"It's just frustrating, your team's controlling the game and the ball ends up in the back of your net," Urbana captain Katie RuhŽ said. "We needed to do a better job of coming back from that and staying pumped up."

From that moment, the momentum shifted in favor of River Hill. It kept the ball on Urbana 's side of the field, as Brittany Yancey set up Anna Thiessen for River Hill's second goal with 1:50 remaining in the first half.

"It was a brilliant cross (from Yancey). Caroline didn't stand a chance," Nichols said.

Even when Urbana managed to put pressure on River Hill's defense, River Hill found ways to expose the Hawks defense. River Hill goalkeeper Carylynne Hudson made an acrobatic diving stop on Julia Roberts' shot from 15-feet, which led to a breakaway goal for Jani Tankard less than a minute later.

"There's a different component to the game that's about passion," Nichols said. "That's headers, loose balls and tonight in moments like that they just outworked us."

Urbana 's loss to River Hill comes days before the team will take on nationally-ranked opponents in the McDonogh Tournament.

"It's the first game of the season, so we're still learning and we still have a long way to go," RuhŽ said after the game. "In practice this week we just have to keep working and keep learning."

"These games test what we're made of," Nichols said. "I've been the coach here for five years and each year we start (slow). I don't like it, I know they don't like it, but it's a test and you can't write us off yet."

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.