TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's soccer opened their 2025 campaign on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Rogers State in Claremore, Oklahoma. After a scoreless opening half in which both teams struggled to generate offense, the Patriots came alive in the second half with three goals to secure their fifth consecutive season-opening win.

The breakthrough came just five minutes into the second half when forward Brooke Mullins found the back of the net off an assist from Ella Anderson, giving UT Tyler the momentum they had been searching for. Less than seven minutes later, Melissa Oliveira doubled the advantage with a strike of her own, pushing the Patriots ahead 2-0. Rogers State cut the deficit in the 64th minute with a goal of their own, but Oliveira answered again in the 86th minute with her second tally of the night, putting the game out of reach and sealing the 3-1 result.

The Patriots controlled the pace of play throughout the second half, outshooting the Hillcats 11-3 after the break and 15-5 overall. Oliveira led all players with four shots, each on target, while Mullins added three of her own. Despite being outnumbered in corner kicks by an 8-2 margin, UT Tyler made the most of its chances and stayed efficient in front of goal.

Defensively, UT Tyler was steady all night and limited Rogers State's opportunities, with goalkeeper Emily Clark recording two saves in her 90 minutes of action. The back line stifled the Hillcats' offensive pressure and helped keep the game under control.

The win marks the Patriots' fifth straight season-opening victory dating back to 2021, during which they have outscored their opponents 13-2 in those matches. Behind Oliveira's offense and the stout defensive performance, UT Tyler displayed a balanced attack that will look to carry over into the rest of their non-conference slate.

UT Tyler will continue their road trip on Saturday as they head to Ada, Oklahoma to face East Central, looking to build on a strong start to the 2025 season.