TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's soccer won their fourth straight match to open the season in 4-0 fashion over Ouachita Baptist on Wednesday night.
A Patriot offense that has now averaged 5.00 goals per game through the first four games of 2024 out-shot the Tigers by a 20-to-7 margin and wore down the opposition throughout the match. Junior
Natalie Jones opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the season just before the halftime break and two quick Patriot goals in the first 20 minutes of action of the second half effectively sealed the deal.
UT Tyler put up 11 shots in the opening half of play and finally found the back of the net on a Jones tap-in score after
Samaris Alvarado had a shot rattle off the post, and then the keeper, and onto the foot of Jones. UT Tyler keeper
Emily Clark answered her lone test of the first half to continue her streak of clean work in net, leading to a 1-0 advantage for the Patriots after 45 minutes of play.
Alvarado played a key part in the second UT Tyler score of the evening as well, heading a cross down from
Ella Anderson onto the foot of sophomore
Marin Love in the 51
st minute. Love found the back of the net for the third time in her last two matches, having scored two goals last Saturday in the 9-0 victory for the Patriots over Jarvis Christian.
Senior
Alyssa Palisi extended the advantage to 3-0 just eight minutes later, beating the Tiger keeper with a strong strike after being set up by
Launa Torrez in the attacking third of the field. Torrez generated a turnover on the Patriot half of the field and then set Pailisi up for the strike with a well-placed through ball that was converted into the third UT Tyler goal of the match.
The scoring was capped off by an own-goal on Ouachita Baptist in the 72
nd minute to bring the score to it's eventual 4-0 final.
Jones and Alvarado led UT Tyler with three shots, while 13 different Patriots put an attempt on net in the contest.
Alvarado, Anderson and Torrez were all credited with assists.
Clark and fellow keeper
Robbi Curry each split a half in goal, recording two saves apiece for the Patriot's second clean sheet in a row.
UT Tyler will now face their first road test of the season on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. against Harding following four straight home contests to open the year.