LA CROSSE, Wis. – A valiant comeback from a 3-0 deficit fell short Thursday as College of Saint Mary opened its soccer season with a 4-3 nonconference loss to Viterbo University at the Viterbo Outdoor Athletics Complex.

"It was a game of missed opportunities,'' CSM Coach Jamison Parkhill said. "We came out a little flat, but I'm really proud of the girls after we made some adjustments at halftime. We battled back.''

The Flames fell into a 3-0 hole in the first 37 minutes against the V-Hawks, who were 8-9-1 last season, before mounting a second-half comeback. Jimena Estrada Gomez lofted the ball ahead to Ella Klusman, who outfought a defender for possession and then scored in the 59^th minute.

In the 62^nd minute, the Flames trimmed it to one. Klusman chased down a ball in the right corner and centered it to a wide-open Bella Olsen, who deflected it in.

That momentum was thwarted in the 64^th minute, however, as Viterbo's Evelyn Shaw beat two defenders and shot. The ball ricocheted to Brynlee Kelly, who scored on the rebound for a 4-2 lead.

"That fourth goal, again, we didn't do our job defensively,'' Parkhill said.

It proved to be the difference in the match, because Klusman lifted a long cross to Olsen in the 81^st minute, and Olsen secured possession and punched in her second goal to cut it to 4-3, which is how it ended.

"When Bella came in, she did exactly what I asked her to do,'' Parkhill said. "And Ella was a force all day.''

The Flames coach credited freshman forward Devon Koyle and freshman defender Hanna Snow with strong performances.

"Devon did a lot of the dirty work up top and had a solid collegiate debut,'' he said. "Hanna settled down in the second half and did a really good job.''

Viterbo outshot CSM 22-14 and also led in corner kicks (10-1) and fouls (14-4).

Parkhill said the Flames defense was "a lot better'' in the second half, after allowing some "pretty soft goals'' to fall behind.

"I'm still happy with where we're trending,'' he said. "We just need to learn from this and be on the front foot more going into games, not play scared. They got us with physicality early, but then we settled down.''

CSM returns to action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. match in Dubuque against Clarke University.