BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – The Mississippi University for Women scored the first three goals of the match and never looked back in a 7-5 women's soccer victory at Blue Mountain College. The win improved the Owls to 5-7 on the year.
 
The match was not as close as it appeared in the box score, as The W built a 7-3 advantage by the 80th minute. BMC scored two goals in the final ten minutes of the lopsided affair.
 
"We started off very aggressive," Head Coach Catie Lyles said. "Before the match, we talked about not letting them score in the first five minutes. Well, they did just that and more! We scored first and it set the tempo. We went into half up 3-2. They came back out in the second half and gave it everything they had. The girls earned this win."
 
The Owls had two goals on the board before fans even had a chance to warm up their seats. Just 1:28 minutes into the contest, Shelby Harrington scored on a pass from Millie Mask. Then, at the 2:51 juncture, the Owls' English import Leah Anderson netted the first of her eventual three goals in the match.
 
In the 20th minute, Anderson made it back-to-back goals, giving MUW a 3-0 margin. Adriana Parsons assisted on Anderson's second goal. BMC answered with a pair of goals before the intermission, 3-2.
 
The W came out like gangbusters in the second half, putting in three unanswered goals to effectively salt away the win. The trio of goals came from Elizabeth Holland (assisted by Sarah Havens) in the 54th minute, Havens unassisted in the 72nd minute and Parsons (assisted by Anderson) in the 74th minute. The trifecta made it 6-2.
 
After the Toppers tallied in the 75th minute, Anderson completed her "hat trick" – and the Owls' scoring – in the 80th minute, thanks to an assist from Harrington.
 
Lyles, due to injuries, does not have enough reserves with her on the bench to play a doubles tennis match or even go on "Family Feud." That has meant Lyles has had to both judicious and creative in her sub patterns with just three reserves.
 
"Sarah Havens was transitioned into defense last game," Lyles explained. "And she has worked hard and played amazing in the back. Lindsey Moyle and Adrianna Parsons have slid to center midfield and are doing an excellent job as well. With limited subs, they are having to push through and play longer than normal."
 
Anderson took seven of the Owls 18 shot attempts, with four on-frame. As a team, MUW had 11 shots on-goal (61 percent).
 
Freshman Haven Tuggle – a former Heritage Academy standout – had three saves in her first collegiate start in the nets.
 
"I am super proud of them," Lyles said of her team. "This team is resilient. They just need to be reminded of how good they can be! And today they proved just that."