The Park University women's soccer program got their first win of the season against University of Saint Mary (Kan.) on Wednesday evening. The Pirates got off to an outstanding start with the lead in the first minute and a half, and they did not look back the rest of the way to a 5-nil victory.

The Pirates now have two shutouts in a row for a 1-0-1 record, while the Spires even out to 1-1 in non-conference play.

Park tied Saint Mary last year on the road, 1-1, but they won by their same margin of victory from two seasons ago with a 6-1 win over Saint Mary, also at Julian Field.

There were three shots on goal for the Spires on the game, as Delaney Duke gets two shutouts to her credit in the first two starts of her career.

All of Duke's saves came in the first half, while the Spires keeper, Marisol Vargas, had her hands full with seven shots on goal in the first half alone.

Two of those shots on goal found the back of the net for Park, starting off in the opening minutes of the game, as Lilli Porsch had an artistic chip shot over Vargas for the Pirates' first goal of the season. Annalena Penshorn, a 2023 Heart 3^rd Team All-Conference performer, took what the defense gave her and earned the assist on the pass to Porsch over the heads of the Spire defense.

The Pirates poured on 12 first half shots, while the Spires managed half that amount. Park had another round of excitement before halftime as Megan Everhart got her first Pirate goal on an assist from Macy Hughes up the right side of the box.

The Pirates defense continued to be aggressive in the second half and only allowed one shot in the second half. Duke's day was done after the first period and Frankie Williams, one of six Johnson County Community College transfers, came in for her first bout of action between the posts for Park.

Duke had three saves for the match, but there was minimal action for Williams who did not have a shot on goal her direction.

The offense had no problems getting started in half two though with a goal by Penshorn just three minutes into the second half. Morales had the corner kick that was placed perfectly for a header from Penshorn to give the Pirates a three goal cushion.

The goal scoring trend continued with a goal from Sofia Morales in the 51^st minute on an excellent backward touch by Emma Le to create space for the senior from Lee's Summit, Mo., Morales, for the finish to the bottom left corner of the net. Morales in her second year now has her first goal of her Pirate career.

No more than two minutes later, '53, Park's Porsch go the brace, matching her two goals from last season in one match. Brock Allen dribbled down towards the end line to open up space for Maddy Farris to deliver a ball to Porsch for the final goal of the match.

The Pirates in all had 20 shots for the game compared to the seven for Saint Mary. The number of corner kicks favored Park as well with six to Saint Mary's one.

Park travels to No. 23 Hastings College on Saturday, August 31 for an 11:00am match in Hastings, Neb. WATCH HERE
Box Score