The Park University women's soccer team made an emphatic open into the 2023 season with a 2-nil victory over the Owls of William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. on Saturday.

Only 2:24 was elapsed in the game when Lilli Porsch in her first game in a Park uniform scored the early go-ahead goal. The Pirates were able to out run the Owls up the left sideline thanks to a great ball from Cecilie Esbak Pedersen to Patrycia Kozak, both new faces in the lineup this season.

Three different countries are represented by these new additions to the Park women's soccer team, Porsch is from Cologne, Germany, Kozak hails from Ontario, Canada, and Esbak made her way to Parkville from Koege, Denmark.

Kozak took the ball in stride from there and after forcing the second defender to play the ball, it opened up Porsch for a tailor-made one-on-one with the Owls' keeper.

That would be the lone score of the half, while the Pirates kicked three more shots than William Woods, seven to four.

Coming off halftime, Kozak announced herself to the Owls defense again with an unassisted goal in the 48^th minute to put her team up, 2-nil. Once again, Park took advantage of the left side of the field.
This time Kozak seamlessly connected on a ball sent up past the defense from Monique Fair from the Pirate side of midfield.

William Woods picked it up in half two with three more shots than Park, six to three. Despite that, Felicitas Mueller picked up four saves on the day, three of which were in half two.

Park is now 21-6-2 against the Owls all-time and are on a two-match winning streak going back to last year's 1-0 victory.

The Pirates host Avila University for the night cap of the Park soccer home opener on Wednesday, August 30 at 7:30pm. Catch the game here.
Box Score