The Park University women's soccer team is coming off of a win Saturday and they extended their quality start from their first road match to their home field for the 2023 home opener against Avila University, defeating the Eagles 3-1.

Avila is still hunting for their first win in 2023, bending to 0-4 in the early going. Park's fortunes are much more favorable with a 2-0 start to 2023. This is the first 2-0 start for the Pirates since 2015, and like the second win eight years ago, it was also against Avila.

With the win, Park has now extended their series record with Avila to 9-1-1.

It was a quiet first half in scoring, but the Pirates were controlling the possession and tallied 10 shots in half one, compared to only one for the Eagles. A majority of Park's shots were threatening as six of the 10 were shots on goal.

The scoring began in the 49^th minute with Chloe Tays' free kick on the far sideline next to the Pirate bench. She put just the right amount of power on the ball placed it perfectly to get past the goalie off the bounce.

Elisah Miller brought the ball deep into Eagle territory and her shot was initially stopped by the Avila keeper and defender. Off the deflection though, the Avila defender made the wrong touch and was charged with the own goal to give Park a 2-nil lead.

This had the makings of the Park vs Avila men's soccer game just over an hour before, as Avila got back at Park in the 64^th minute with a score from Nikkole Wood with an assist coming from Megan Nugent on an Eagle corner kick. It was great placement by Nugent and Wood was in the right place at the right time to head in the cross from her teammate.

The Pirates got another 10 shots off in the second half and in total had four times as many as Avila when it was all said and done, 20 to five.

Patrycia Kozak was hungry for a goal all game and had her last chance to cash in on a broken defense with time expiring. Cecile Esbak Pedersen sent a ball up the middle to Kozak with close to 10 seconds left in the game. After a great turn by Kozak and zero purple jersey between her and the keeper, she scored her second goal of the season as regulation time struck zero.

Kozak led the Pirates with eight shots and four shots on goal in the contest. She also joined in on a Pirates Post-Game following tonight's victory.

Park looks to keep pressing forward into 2023 with a road match against University of Saint Mary on Wednesday, September 6 at 5pm. Catch the game here.

Box Score