MESA, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert women's soccer team (3-3-0, 1-0-0) opened conference play with a 4-0 victory over the Ottawa University Arizona Spirit (2-4-0, 1-1-0), Saturday evening at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
The Buccaneers got back to .500 in dominant fashion, securing their second shutout of the 2025 season.
Last year, in Park-Gilbert's first year in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference, the Bucs closed out 2024 with three consecutive wins over GSAC opponents. Park kept its conference winning streak alive, defeating OUAZ for the first time in the program's history.
After nearly 40 minutes of scoreless soccer, junior forward Yadira Bernal scored her first goal of the season in the 42nd minute; courtesy of an assist from Megan O'Neill.
The Bucs found the back of the net twice midway through the second half. Sophomore midfielder Marisa Randall scored her first goal of the year in the 69th minute, and freshman forward Anela Leslie scored her first collegiate goal in the 70th minute; assisted by senior defender Alicia Ypina.
The fourth and final goal of the match came in the 85th minute, from yet another Buccaneer who scored her first goal in 2025: senior forward Taliyah Parker.
In net for Park-Gilbert was sophomore goalkeeper Journey Morimoto, who picked up her second clean sheet in her fourth start. Morimoto recorded two saves on the evening.
Park-Gilbert outshot OUAZ 15-4 in what turned into a physical match, as both teams combined for 21 fouls and five yellow cards.
The Bucs return to the pitch this Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. MST, when they hit the road to face the Benedictine Mesa Redhawks (2-5-0, 0-2-0) at ASU Polytechnic in Mesa, Ariz.
