GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Playing at home for the first in 2017 did wonders for Lady Argo soccer. After starting the season 0-3, UP came home and dominated Presentation College in a lopsided 5-0 win. All 5 goals came from different players including four players who had yet to score in 2017.
 
"It feels good to get that first win. I was happy with how the girls played. We had a tough first three games but I think we responded really well," Head Coach Brian Clarke said. "I think it's definitely a good boost. We know we're capable of playing like that, but we've been pretty banged in the first few weeks. This was a good way to end our non-conference schedule."
 
The first scoring chance of the day came almost immediately, with UP earning a corner kick just 30 seconds into the first half. Junior Sydney Knieriem took the corner and her ball found the head of senior forward Alejandra Guzman which was saved but gave the Lady Argos the first shot and first shot on goal in the game.
 
Just over a minute later, the Saints earned a corner kick of their own and that too resulted in a non-threatening shot on goal. That minor scoring chance ended up being the last time UP goalkeeper Dakota Neumann was really needed as the Saints got off just one more shot for the rest of the game.
 
In the 11th minute, UP's top offensive threat, sophomore forward Eme McLaughlin score the game's first goal.  Senior  midfielder had the ball a bit to the right of center and about 35 yards out. She saw McLaughlin making a run from the left wing into the penalty box and played a perfect ball that McLaughlin ran onto and slotted it past the oncoming keeper.
 
Just over two minutes later,  a cross  from the left wing found Guzman again open in the box for a header. Her effort was knocked down by PC's outstretch goalkeeper the ball fell back to Guzman's feet. She played the ball back to Knieriem who confidently finished from 10 yards away.
 
UP kept up the offensive pressure, consistently possessing the ball and barely allowing Presentation to even maintain control of the ball past the half field line.
 
In the 38th minute, the Lady Argos broke through again. Freshman win Soraya Alfaro put in a cross from the right side to senior forward Madison Quinn right towards the top of the penalty box. Quinn had time to settle it, take a look and the net, and fire one from about 12 yards out into the back of the net.
 
The first half offensive fireworks still weren't done for UP. Just four minutes later, another Lady Argo got her first goal of the season. This time it  was transfer  junior Roxanne Hoffman who received a short drop pass from freshman Isabel Cardenas, who was possessing the ball inside the penalty box but had her back to the  goal,  and finished  from  the top of the box.
 
Coach Clarke played with the lineup a bit more in the second half and the Lady Argos got a little less aggressive but the possession still heavily favored UP.
 
In the 74th minute, a Presentation foul gave UP a free kick at about midfielder. Junior Sarah Howell stepped to the ball and after perusing her options sent a long line drive right down the center of the field, in between and over the Saint's two center backs. Junior forward Malena Lennon just got to the ball before the charging keeper and poked it into the left corner of the goal.
 
That was the last score for UP who ended up outshooting the Saints 19-2. The Lady Argos had 8 shots on goal, 8 corner kicks, and needed just 1 save in the game.
 
UP's 5 goals are the most the team has scored since a road game on September 9, 2014, which was also against Presentation College. The Lady Argos won that one 7-0.
 
With the win, UP's record goes to 1-3 on the season. The team will start Cascade Collegiate Conference next weekend with a home game against Northwest Christian University on Friday, September 22 at 1 p.m.