The Blinn College women's soccer team started its season and the Alexandria Jackson era with an emphatic victory Saturday.
Blinn rolled to a 10-0 non-conference win over Crush FC at Hohlt Park's Rankin Field, handing Jackson her first victory as head coach of the Buccaneers in their 2022 season opener.
Blinn received goals from eight different players and smothered the visiting Crush to the tune of 19 shots on goal. The Buccaneers also clamped down on defense, preventing any shots from the Crush offense.
(Pictured: Halee Hernandez, center right, congratulates Emeyda Cruz, 7, as Deja Marsh, 3, runs to join the celebration after Emeyda scored a goal against Crush FC on Saturday)
"To come out in our first game and win and also play at a high level was important to us," said Jackson. "The message to our players was clear today: Be a savage; be intentional; be aggressive; and compete at the highest level. I think all of our players did that."
Jackson said Saturday's outcome allowed her to empty her bench and spend a portion of the match evaluating her players at various positions.
"We saw a lot of great options for what we can do moving forward," she added.
(Pictured: Blinn College head coach Alexandria Jackson surveys the field on Saturday)
Numerous Buccaneers flashed their ability with the ball, as freshmen forwards Emeyda Cruz and Haylee McBride scored two goals apiece, while sophomores Dejah Marsh (forward) and Halee Hernandez (midfielder), freshman defenders Emma Orozco and Bailey Edwards, and freshman midfielders Brianna Hofdman and Jasmin West found the net, too.
Marsh was also credited with an assist.
"We started off strong and kept that going," Marsh said. "We came out and possessed the ball immediately, slowed the game down, stayed connected, and then finished at the goal."
Freshman goalkeeper Sydney Gibbs was in goal for the shutout.
The Buccaneers resume their season with the start of Region XIV play against Paris Junior College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Rankin Field.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
