OMAHA, Neb. – An attacking Graceland University squad beat College of Saint Mary to the punch on Wednesday, scoring a 4-1 nonconference victory in the Flames' home opener.

CSM Coach Jamison Parkhill said the team didn't play with enough intensity in the first half, which ended with the Flames down 3-0.

"We decided to not show up in the first half,'' he said. "We had to be motivated in the second half to play the right way. That's something we've been preaching all preseason long, and particularly the last two days.''

Chloe Montera opened the scoring for Graceland (1-1-1) in the fourth minute when she lofted a long-distance shot from the right wing into the upper left corner of the net. In the 29^th minute, Tessa Cook made it 2-0 on an assist from Nuria Garcia.

In the 35^th minute, Wissal Rafik made a steal and quickly fired a shot from very long range that found the back of the net. Cook added her second goal on a header in the 53^rd minute off a corner kick from Sierra Flores.

The Flames (0-3-0) avoided the shutout in the 83^rd minute by putting on some offensive pressure and forcing a Graceland own-goal.

Parkhill said the second half was a welcome improvement.

"That's the level that we can play at, and still we could be better,'' he said. "To come out like we did in the second half and create more chances was great. I would say 85% of the second half was played in our attacking half, because we were actually doing what we were supposed to be doing. There are still things that we need to fix, but it was 100 times better.''

The Yellowjackets outshot CSM 12-7 and held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.

Parkhill praised the play of Emily Trujillo, who "played the ball forward and was taking risks, and it paid off.'' He also credited Izzie Kadavy with being very active on the left side.

Still, it wasn't enough.

"We just haven't been able to put a full 90 together,'' Parkhill said. "We as a team just kind of need to put up or shut up.''

CSM returns to action Aug. 30 at Black Hills State.