FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University women's soccer team opened the 2021 season with a 4-3 win over Avila University Sunday afternoon. 
 
Avila opened the game with a goal just three minutes in off a free kick to take an early 1-0 lead. 
 
On a Taylor Amlong corner kick, McKenzie Gourley connected on a header in the fifth minute to even the score. 
 
The Owls went on to score the next three goals in the half, taking up a 4-1 lead. 
 
Sydney Balducci's scored in the 10^th minute and again in the 24th minute, both on Abby Wilson's assists.
 
Following a foul in the box, Abby Prather-Turner easily scored on a penalty kick in the 26^th minute. 
 
Avila looked to come back into the game in the second half. They scored an unassisted goal dribbled in just inside the box to bring the score to 4-2 in the 68^th minute. In the 82^nd minute, they added their third and final goal.
 
The Owls host Central Methodist for their second game of the season on Wednesday, August 24. The game time is TBD due to a heat advisory.