The Brock Badgers women's soccer team notched their first victory of the 2023 season, besting the Algoma Thunderbirds 2-1 on Saturday (Sept. 30) afternoon at Brock Alumni Field. 

The Badgers controlled possession and held the ball in the opponent's half for the majority of the first 45 minutes, putting up 14 shots on net. 

Despite that offensive pressure, it was the Thunderbirds who got on the board first as Alexa Naslovar found the back of the net in the 44th minute. 

In the second half, Brock continued to control the ball in the final third, adding 13 shots on net and limiting Algoma to zero shots.  

In the 88th minute, the Badgers finally found the scoreboard as Kyra Eaton scored her first goal of the season. Two minutes later, Eaton then crossed the ball to sophomore striker Jenna Parris who made no mistake, putting the ball into the goal for the 2-1 win. 

Parris led the Badgers with seven shots on goal, while Juliana Andolina and Brianna Bishop were not far behind with five. A total of 10 Badgers fired a shot on net, combining for a total of 26, while Algoma put up a total of two. 

Captain and defender Grace Tawil kept the team calm throughout the match and was the level-headed presence the team needed in the contest. 

First-year goalkeeper Shaelyn Mitchell earned the first win of her OUA career. 

Head coach Carli Tingstad was proud of how the team persevered during the game.  

"I just said to the girls at the end, I felt like it was one of those games where it easily could have slipped away. It may not feel like it, but we definitely learned something today. It could have been six in the first half, but we got nothing. Those moments can get really frustrating, but I'm super proud with how they stuck with it." 

As part of National Truth and Reconciliation Day, both teams wore orange shirts in warmup and took a moment of silence before the contest to remember and honour the victims and survivors of Canadian residential schools.  

Up next, the Badgers (1-3-2) will host this same Algoma Thunderbirds squad (0-8) for a rematch tomorrow (Oct. 1) at Brock Alumni Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 
 
BADGERS AT A GLANCE  
Overall Record: 1-3-2 (W-L-T)  
Conference Record: 1-3-2  
  
Next match: Sunday, Oct. 1 vs Algoma Thunderbirds • 1 p.m. – Brock Alumni Field 
 
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