The UCA women’s soccer team dominated the Toronto Blizzards with a 13-0 victory, burying its opponents under a frosty scoreline.
Sophomore midfielder Megan Moudy set the tone early, netting the first goal just three minutes and 35 seconds into the match.
The game, held Thursday, March 13, at 7 p.m., was part of UCA’s spring training schedule to sharpen the team’s skills and build momentum for the upcoming fall season.
“In the spring, it’s really just about trying to improve and give everybody an opportunity to show what they got because it’s just about development this time of year,” said UCA women’s soccer coach Jeremy Bishop.
Freshman forward Kayla Hurley delivered a corner kick at 27:37 in the first half; Junior midfielder Lea Duus Madsen capitalized on the opportunity, scoring the team’s third goal with a decisive header.
Sophomore midfielder Megan Moudy closed out the half with her second goal of the match, striking with 12:29 left on the clock.
“One of the things that we’ve talked about is just being able to challenge for everything, and we did a good job of that, for sure,” Bishop said.
The Bears dominated both ends of the field, heading into halftime with a commanding 6-0 lead.
In the second half, UCA maintained a solid defensive line.
At the 37:08 mark, freshman defender Jama Akpanudo broke through the center and scored the team’s seventh goal.
The game marked a sharp offensive turnaround for the Bears after their loss to the Razorbacks a week earlier.
Junior forward Trace Pavatt played a key role late in the game, assisting the ninth goal with 10:44 remaining.
Driving down the middle at the 9:04 mark, Pavatt scored the 10th goal and — with 3:45 left in the second half — set up sophomore forward Abbi Armstrong for the team’s 11th goal.
Pavatt capped off the night with the final goal, finding the net with just 45 seconds left to seal the Bears’ 13-0 victory.
Despite the lopsided victory, Bishop emphasized the importance of focusing on development for the upcoming season.
“Some of these games in the spring, we kind of end up a little bit overmatching them,” Bishop said. “That’s a game where we’re trying to reach something else.”
The Toronto Blizzards may have melted under the Bears’ offensive firepower, but the win provided valuable opportunities for growth as UCA prepares for tougher competition ahead.
“It’s just an opportunity in the spring to try to reach a different level through, you know, playing a challenging schedule,” Bishop said. “We’ve done that a little bit already, and we’ll be on the other side of it here for a couple of games before facing some even teams.”
The Bears’ dominant performance showcased their growth and ability to execute on both ends of the field.
“I thought we did a good job of doing the things that we’ve been working on,” Bishop said. “I’m pleased with the overall effort.”
With tougher competition ahead, UCA remains focused on development and building momentum for the fall season.
The Bears will next face the Harding University Bisons at 7 p.m. April 9 at the Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex.