Women's Invitational at BAA field last night as they dismantled a solid Gettysburg College outfit, defeating them 3-1.

Amid much fanfare, the local women took to the field determined to show their opponents and the large crowd what they were made of.

The game was only three minutes old when Bermuda gained the upper hand with a strike by forward Nikita Dill. Action was fast and furious in the opening stages with the `feeling out process' disregarded and both sides attacking relentlessly.

Quick to reply were the Americans, who levelled the score seven minutes later.

Amy Gorman was the scorer, her shot leaving the Bermuda 'keeper Antionette Williams helpless.

The one goal advantage was restored however when Tana Petechin netted the goal of the game from all of 25 yards. Her dipping shot fooled Kathy Kroupa, between the posts for the visitors, looping over her head into the back of the net.

Bermuda's domination continued after the interval with virtually `one-way traffic' towards the Gettysburg goal. Dill was a constant thorn up front, making several menacing runs at the defence. Lisa DeSilva also showed flashes of brilliance and skipper Kelly Trott was a constant force in midfield.

Sweeper Kati Michalsky and utility player Stephanie Judd performed well for Gettysburg, showing excellent passing skills, but plays often broke down once they released the ball to the possession of their teammates. The forwards came up against a seemingly impenetrable wall of Bermuda defence marshalled by centre-backs Earlene Wilkinson and Terry-Lynn Paynter.

A final nail was hammered into the coffin when Rachael Wilkinson pounced on a mishandle of a shot by the 'keeper to force the ball over from close range.

Despite the result, Bermuda team coach Dennis Brown said the performance left much room for improvement.

"Overall it was a good performance, but we can play a lot better,'' said Brown, a former Bermuda national team captain. "There were a lot of things worked on in training that I didn't see tonight.'' Last night's second game was just getting under way at Press time. The tournament continues today with a double-header featuring Bermuda `A' against Messiah College (7 p.m.) and Bermuda `B' taking the field for the nightcap against Connecticut College (9 p.m.). Sunday has Bermuda `A' playing Connecticut (1 p.m.) and Bermuda `B' versus Gettysburg (3 p.m.).

SOLID IN DEFENCE -- Earlene Wilkinson.