PENSACOLA, Fla. – Savanna Soares's first goal in the 15th minute of the game would have been enough for the University of West Florida women's soccer team to defeat Albany State on Wednesday evening, but Soares and four other Argonauts found the net in a 6-0 victory.
 
With the win, No. 5 UWF improved to 3-0 on the year, and West Florida now has several Gulf South Conference individual stat leaders. Shantell Thompson and Leonie Kreil lead the league with three assists each, after Thompson added two helpers on Wednesday and Kreil had one, and Deneisha Blackwood's goal in the 47th minute extended her leads in goals (4) and total points (8).
 
"We feel positive about the direction we're going," head coach Joe Bartlinski said after the win. "Now we've got the conference schedule, and this is when the grind begins. We've got two very good teams coming in, and we're looking forward to it."
 
Soares, a junior from Virginia Beach, Virginia, shot a head-high line drive into the back of the net for her first goal of the night, following a left-footed pass from Thompson. In the 22nd minute, Soares made it a 2-0 UWF lead with a high lofting shot just outside the 18-yard box.
 
The two-goal game was the second of her UWF career, with the first of those coming against North Alabama on October 2 last year.
 
"This has been a good way to open up the season," Soares said. "We're just trying to keep a positive mindset from these games, and keep up our effort."
 
Thompson would later assist on Hannah Wooten's first career goal, making it 3-0 and give UWF a comfortable lead going into the half.
 
The Argonauts did not stop in the second half, getting goals from Blackwood and Victoria Swift within 30 seconds of each other to put the score at 5-0. Swift also assisted on Blackwood's goal, giving her three points for the day.
 
Elizabeth Vickers capped the scoring after a corner kick from Kaljit Atwal deflected off an ASU defender and Vickers found the net.
 
UWF has outscored its opponents 12-1 through three games this year, and Wednesday marked the first six-goal win for West Florida since the Argos defeated Shorter 6-0 in October of 2012.
 
West Florida will open the Gulf South Conference schedule and host Auburn-Montgomery on Friday, September 8 at 7:30 pm at the UWF Soccer Complex, before hosting Montevallo at 12:30 pm on Sunday, September 10.