COLUMBUS, Miss. -  After suffering through a four-match skid in which it netted just two goals total, the Mississippi University for Women women's soccer team had an explosive effort at home versus Blackburn College, 6-0, at the Roger Short Soccer Complex. The Owls (2-4-0, 1-1-0 SLIAC) out-shot the Beavers (3-4-1, 0-2-0 SLIAC), 24-4, in what was MUW's first-ever St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference home match.
 
It was also The W's second shutout in as many wins in 2023. The Owls also blanked Wesleyan (Ga.) in their season opener back on September 4.
 
Owls' faithful did not have to wait long to see the fireworks begin, either. Just 5:37 minutes into the contest, senior Olivia Deslatte (Madison, Miss.) blasted in her first goal of the day, unassisted, to give MUW all it would prove to need.
 
In the 21st minute, freshman Kiersten Taylor (Pearl River, La.) took a ball from Anacia Leyland (St. Helens, England) and found the back of the net to make it 2-0. That score stood until the intermission.
 
In the 62nd minute, Deslatte notched her second goal of the game, with the assist going to Taylor.  In the 71st minute, this time it was Deslatte sending a pass to Carlie Giles (Brandon, Miss.) and the junior converted to make it 4-0 in favor of the Owls.
 
Less than two minutes later, newcomer Mia Mauro (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) scored her first goal since the opener, with the assist going to Katie Mills (Wesson, Miss.). Giles rounded out the scoring in the 80th minute with her team-leading fourth goal of the season, with Mauro assisting.
 
In goal, The W starter Alex Moon (Poynton with Worth, England) took on the first 45 minutes and had a save on the Beavers lone shot on-goal of the day. Senior Olivia Clark (Decatur, Miss.) did not face any Blackburn attacks in her final half of work for the shared shutout with Moon.