AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Thomas University women's soccer team defeated Ave Maria, 6-0, Saturday afternoon at Gyrene Field. 

"We played a great 85 minutes of soccer," said Head Coach Julie Orlowski. "We did not start well and Ave Maria took it to us. They scored a goal that was called back, and that woke us up a little bit."

The Night Hawks last scored at least one half dozen goals on Sept. 30, 2017, when Thomas won, 7-0, against Ave Maria, and TU's last shutout was on Oct. 28, 2017 at Florida Memorial.

"Kara Houston has come up big for us so many times this year, so I'm happy that she earned her first shutout," said Orlowski. "She finally gets the donut!"

With the victory, Thomas improves to 2-3-2, with losses only to teams ranked in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

On Saturday, the Night Hawks scored in the 13th minute, then added another in the 17th to take the early lead. Two more goals at 30:06 and 38:13 gave TU the 4-0 lead at the half. Thomas added a pair of goals at 58:56 and 63:54 to earn the 6-0 victory. 

TU outshot Ave Maria 26-5 overall and 14-4 on goal. In the second stanza, Thomas only allowed a pair of shots, one of which was on goal. 

Rookie Jahzyiah Samuels-Williams led the attack with two goals, while senior Katy Hunt her first goal and her first assist of the season. Senior Kara Houston made four saves in 73 minutes in goal. 

Ave Maria opened with a pair of early shots, which were both saved by Houston. Thomas then took nine unanswered shots over the next 10 minutes, netting two in that span. At 13:18, Hunt assisted senior Anna Gray for TU's first goal, then at 17:39, redshirt senior Anna Felixson netted an unassisted goal, her first of the season. 

"I am so happy for Anna Felixson to score her first collegiate goal," said Orlowski. "She has been through so much, seeing that smile made my day."

Over the last two years, Felixson missed 18 months because of an injured knee. 

Thirteen minutes later, Samuels-Williams finished an unassisted goal to give Thomas the 3-0 edge. Then seven minutes before the break, Hunt netted her first goal of the season. 

The Night Hawks put the match out of reach early in the second period, scoring two goals in the first 19 minutes. Samuels-Williams subbed into the game at 56:43, then two minutes later, scored her second goal of the game. Then at 63:54, freshman Victoria Trujic finished her first career goal, which gave TU the 6-0 win.

Thomas returns to the TU Soccer Complex Oct. 3 to face USC Beaufort at 4 p.m.