COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Mississippi University for Women women's soccer team got its 2022 campaign started on the right foot by scoring a 4-1 win at Allen University. And in the process, the Owls (1-0) made a little program history by notching the first-ever season-opener victory in the five-year history of the program.
 
"It was a great way to start the regular season," MUW Head Coach Catie Lyles said. "The girls moved the ball extreme well and found their rhythm. Now we just have to keep moving forward."
 
The W's offense was hitting on all cylinders. Of MUW's 13 total shot attempts, 10 were directly on frame for an impressive .769 shots-on-goal average for the match. Lyles' team received contributions across the board, with four different players scoring goals (and an additional two players earning assists).
 
The Owls' defense was equally stellar, allowing the Yellow Jackets just six shot attempts.
 
AU did score first in the contest, netting a goal at the 4:48 mark. But after that, The W goaltender Olivia Clark – in her first match for the Owls after transferring in from East Central Community College – kept the hosts at bay, making two saves on the Jackets' only other shots on-goal.
 
Down 1-0, MUW would reel off four unanswered goals to take the win. At the 8:30 juncture, junior returner Lindsey Moyle knotted the contest at 1-1. In the 34th minute, junior newcomer Sydney Shoemaker received the ball off a corner kick and slide the ball past AU net-minder Nalaine McCants for what would prove to be the match-deciding goal.
 
The 2-1 score stood until the intermission.
 
In the second 45-minute segment, the Owls added some welcome insurance. Junior Adriana Parsons, who was impressive in the team's three exhibition bouts, stayed hot by tallying a goal in the 57th minute off a pass from Lizzie Truelock.
 
In the 65th minute, another East Central C.C. alum – Molly Moore – registered her first goal as an Owl. Freshman newcomer Kimi Norway assisted, as MUW upped the score to the 4-1 final.    
 
The Owls will stay on the road for a Saturday (Sept. 3/1 p.m.) match-up at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga.