Media Credit: Photo by Ron Besser Brianna Oeser takes a shot on goal. Oeser broke Brooke Morgan's career goals record Wednesday against Thomas University. [Click to enlarge]

The University of West Florida West Florida took their top-10 ranking and unbeaten streak on the road and came home with two victories, both shutouts. After a 5-0 win at Ouachita Baptist on Friday, the women shutout Christian Brothers University, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon.

Audia Sullivan collected two goals, and Brandi Adams picked up two assists as UWF overcame driving rain and wind conditions to earn the 4-0 triumph over Christian Brothers. West Florida now has posted 505 consecutive shutout minutes over 51/2 matches. Their streak dates back to the start of the second half against Florida Southern on Sept. 11. With the victory, West Florida improves to 9-0-1, (2-0 in the Gulf South Conference). Christian Brothers falls to 1-4-2, (0-2).

"The playing conditions were very difficult, and we had to play the entire first half against the wind and the rain," West Florida head coach Joe Bartlinski said. "The players kept their composure and played our system pretty well."

Despite less than ideal conditions created from the remnants of Hurricane Rita, West Florida scored three first-half goals while playing against the wind. Paty Toledo started the Argonaut scoring at 28 minutes when she headed a corner kick past Christian Brothers goalkeeper Sarah Plummer. Adams picked up the assist, her third assist off a corner kick this season. Sullivan followed seven minutes later with a goal off a breakaway, giving the Argonauts a 2-0 advantage. Mauricia Nicholson completed the first-half scoring with a goal in the 43rd minute.

Sullivan completed UWF scoring at 77 minutes with her second goal of the game from an Adams pass. The West Florida defense continued to shine in the second half. The Argonauts allowed only five shots in the match. None was allowed in the second half. Klara Vrbova collected four saves for the victory.

"It can be real difficult to win on the road as our opponents rise to the occasion," Bartlinski said. "Our team handled adversity well, and we are excited about getting two road victories this weekend."

West Florida will return to the UWF Soccer Complex on Friday. The Argonauts will face Central Arkansas at 5 p.m.

Second Half Magic

A second-half explosion pushed the University of West Florida to an impressive.

5-0 win over Gulf South Conference rival Ouachita Baptist on Friday to open the trip.

After a scoreless tie at the half, UWF was forced to make offensive adjustments in the second half to swing the momentum in their favor.

"They made things difficult for us in the first half," head coach Joe Bartlinski said. "They outworked us, and we knew we had to make some changes."

West Florida wore down the OBU defense in the second half, eventually scoring at will. The game's first goal came at 69:09 when Audia Sullivan scored the first of her two goals unassisted, by beating three defenders. At 73:08, Mauricia Nicholson scored on a penalty kick after being tackled in the box. Sarah Hughes added an unassisted goal on a follow-up at 75:37.

Jessica Morrish got into the scoring when she scored on a cross pass by Nicholson at 87:54. Sullivan scored her second goal with one second left to play. The play was initiated by Marcela Franco's steal and assisted by Nicholson.

"We finally started playing the ball around quickly and broke down the defense," Bartlinski said.

The Argos outshot OBU, 31-5 and 14-1, in shots-on-goal. West Florida had the advantage in corner kicks, 10-4. The Lady Tigers committed 17 fouls to UWF's seven. West Florida is now 5-0-0 all-time against OBU.

Oeser Sets UWF Career Record

Brianna Oeser became UWF's all-time career leader in goals, recording her second career hat trick as the University of West Florida breezed by Thomas University 7-0 Tuesday evening at the UWF Soccer Complex. In the process, the Argonauts posted their 27th consecutive home victory. Thomas dropped to 0-6-1.

Oeser tied Brook Morgan's goals record and then set a new record less than a minute later in the first half. She scored unassisted at 28 minutes and followed 32 seconds later from a Brooke Davis cross to set the record. Oeser broke Morgan's record of 42 career goals, set from 1997-2000. She completed the hat trick with her 44th career goal at 50 minutes on a cross from Kellean St. Clair.

West Florida started the scoring early in the first half when Paty Toledo scored on a Mauricia Nicholson pass 1:10 into the match. Audia Sullivan followed fewer than two minutes later for her second goal of the season. Marcela Franco added a goal 22 seconds later to give West Florida a 3-0 advantage in the first three minutes. Toledo later added her eighth goal of the season to complete the scoring in the 54th minute.

The West Florida defense once again shut down the opponent's offense. Thomas was held to one shot on goal.

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