BOCA RATON, Fla. – Led by a trio of offensive transfers, University of West Florida women's soccer team opened their season with an impressive 3-0 win versus Lynn in Boca Raton, Florida, on Friday evening. The win marked the 10th-consecutive season that UWF has won its first game of the year.
 
Both teams found themselves scoreless for much of the first half, until a failed clearance from Lynn led to junior striker Grace Busby scoring the first goal of the season for UWF in the 31st minute with a chip from 20 yards out that went over the head of Lynn keeper Alexa Downie.  Senior goalkeeper Katelyn Burkhart had five saves in the first half to send the team to the locker room with a 1-0 lead, and she ultimately picked up her 11th career shutout. That total ranks fifth in UWF history.
 
The second half turned out to be a showcase for Deneisha Blackwood, who scored in the 48th and 67th minutes. Blackwood, a two-time NJCAA All-American at Navarro College, got help from fellow Navarro transfer Shantell Thompson and Busby. The first of those two goals came on a long ball over the top from Busby that allowed Blackwood to outrun the Lynn defense and find the net from inside the box. Thompson led Blackwood to the right side of the box for the second goal, which put the final touches on the 3-0 victory.
 
West Florida was dominant in all facets of the game on Friday, outshooting the Fighting Knights 17-8 and keeping possession enough to gain 10 corner kicks on the day.
 
When Lynn did threaten, the Fighting Knights did so in bunches. Lynn midfielder Gabriela Moriera put a shot on goal that Burkhart saved, and Emily Weisberg did the same less than 20 minutes later. In the 22nd minute, Burkhart made two saves within 11 seconds of each other, and the UWF defense did not allow a shot for the next 19 minutes.
 
In typical UWF fashion, the Argonauts forced the issue early with an aggressive attack. Leonie Kreil and Kaljit Atwal combined to take four corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the contest, and Kreil finished the day with a pair of shots. Elizabeth Vickers joined the offensive attack, tallying two shots on goal.
 
No. 8 UWF will face Palm Beach Atlantic at Lynn on Sunday morning, with an 11 am ET kickoff at Bobby Campbell Stadium in Boca Raton.