GALESBURG, Ill. – The Webster University women's soccer team opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion on Saturday morning as the Gorloks defeated Knox College, 5-0, at Jorge Prats Field. Webster improves to 1-0-0 on the season.
Webster controlled the match offensively, outshooting the Prairie Fire by a final count of 21-6 and putting 16 shots on target compared to five from Knox. The Gorloks also held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
The Gorloks opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Riley Cappozzo found the back of the net to give Webster a 1-0 lead. Malaya Blakely then doubled the advantage in the 26th minute, scoring her first goal of the season as the Gorloks took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Webster came out firing in the second half as Mia Smith scored just 1:45 into the period off an assist from Sofia Bosnos to make it 3-0. Blakely added her second goal of the match in the 59th minute before completing her hat trick in the 66th minute to give the Gorloks a 5-0 advantage.
Blakely led the Gorloks offensively with three goals on eight shots, including seven shots on goal. Smith added a goal on four shots, while Cappozzo recorded a goal on two shots. Webster continued to pressure the Prairie Fire after taking a 5-0 lead, recording several more shots and five corner kicks in the second half.
Leia Adkins played all 90 minutes in goal for Webster and recorded five saves to earn the shutout. Adkins made two saves in the opening 10 minutes before adding two more stops in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.
The Gorloks will return to action on Wednesday, September 9 when they travel to Decatur, Illinois to take on Millikin University. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
