JACKSON, Tenn. – The University of West Florida women's soccer team improved to 12-3-1 overall and 9-2-1 with a 2-0 win at Union on Sunday afternoon, guaranteeing the team home field advantage for the first round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on October 31. UWF was even more dominant in the effort than the score suggests, outshooting the Lady Bulldogs 25-2 and putting 12 of those shots on target.
 
Sunday's game-winner came from Isabella Garcia-Salas in the 45th minute, when the sophomore took a shot that deflected off a Union defender, found the back of the net, and put UWF ahead 1-0 as teams entered the half. The goal is the third of the year for Garcia-Salas, and she has now scored at least one point in each of her last four matches. It was also her second game-winner of the year, with the other of those coming just last week against West Georgia.
 
Another positive note in the win for UWF was the return of Deneisha Blackwood, who played in her first game since October 1 and scored West Florida's second goal of the day.
 
The goal was Blackwood's only shot taken in her 20 minutes of action on the pitch, and she got an assist on the goal from Shantell Thompson, who is now tied with Kreil with seven helpers this year.
 
Katelyn Burkhart earned her ninth win of the season in goal on Sunday with another shutout – her sixth of the year. In the five games since UWF's loss to Lee on October 7, Burkhart has five wins, four shutouts and a 0.20 goals against average.  
 
The senior's 0.60 GAA this year ranks second in the conference and her six solo shutouts are the second-most in the league.
 
UWF will make a trip to Spring Hill on Thursday, October 26, before hosting Auburn-Montgomery on Saturday for Senior Day, Argie's Kids Club Day and the Fight Cancer Game.