OLYMPIA, Wash. --- The Park University Gilbert women's soccer team (1-0-0) opened the 2026 regular season with a 2-1 victory over the Evergreen State College Geoducks (0-1-0), Thursday afternoon at Geoduck Pitch in Olympia, Wash.
The Buccaneers got off to a strong start in their season opener, controlling the majority of the offensive play and outshooting Evergreen 20-3 throughout the 90-minute contest.
Park-Gilbert wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as sophomore forward Ava Fike, making her Buccaneers debut after transferring from Scottsdale Community College, found the back of the net with just under 24 minutes played. Fike's first goal of the season came off an unassisted shot from 20 yards out, giving the Bucs a 1-0 lead heading into the halftime break.
The Geoducks responded in the 58th minute, as Isabella Williams found the back of the net to even the score at one. Park-Gilbert quickly answered, however, as Fike netted her second goal of the afternoon in the 70th minute off an assist from junior forward Yadira Bernal.
Fike's second goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Buccaneers held onto the 2-1 advantage for the remainder of the contest to begin the season with a victory.
Park-Gilbert's offensive pressure was evident throughout the match, as the Bucs registered 20 shots compared to Evergreen's three, including a 10-1 advantage in shots on goal. The Buccaneers also earned eight corner kicks, while the Geoducks had just one.
In net for Park-Gilbert was sophomore goalkeeper Journey Morimoto, who played all 90 minutes in her first start of the 2026 season. The Buccaneers held Evergreen to just one shot on goal throughout the contest.
After opening the season in the win column, Park-Gilbert women's soccer will return to the pitch this Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10:00 a.m. MST, when the Bucs travel to Kirkland, Wash., to face Northwest University at NU Athletic Field.
