LAKE WALES, Fla. - The Royals Women's Soccer team opened their 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, beating the Brewton-Parker Barons by a final score of 8-1. Warner saw 8 different players score goals in their opening day victory, including 2 goals by true Freshmen, while totaling 36 total shots with 19 of those being on goal.
True Freshman
Malina Salas got the scoring started for the Royals in the 20th minute of the game, finding the back of the net from just inside the 18 off a cross from
Shelby Cape to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead. The Barons answered back in the 32nd minute scoring on a counter-attack and tying the match at 1. As the two teams battled to find an edge before entering halftime, Centerback
Alycia Hizer found
Elisabet Rosario on a long through ball behind the Brewton-Parker defense which Rosario took full advantage of beating the opposing goalkeeper 1-on-1 to give the Royals a 2-1 lead going into the break.
Warner's offense found its stride in the 2nd half, finding the back of the net 6 more times before the final whistle. Senior
Miya Sikhakhane scored her 1st collegiate goal in the 66th minute of the game on a rocket shot into the top left corner of the goal from just outside of the box after being assisted by
Astrid Beckemeier to give the Royals a 2 goal lead. Rosario followed that up with her 2nd goal of the game, tying her season goal total from her Freshman season in 2025, in the 67th minute scoring on a shot from about 30 yards out from the left wing. About 10 minutes later, true Freshman
Layla Sikhakhane scored her 1st collegiate goal after beating 3 Baron defenders off the dribble before blasting a shot into the back of the net for the Royals 5th goal of the game. Miya SIkhakhane scored her 2nd goal of the game a few minutes later, scoring an Olympico, (a goal scored directly from a corner kick), before Warner would see 2 more goals scored over the next 2 minutes of play. The Royals 7th goal came from
Clarissa Chew who followed a powerful shot by Miya SIkhakhane that was fumbled by the goalkeeper in the 83rd minute. The 8th goal from the Royals came in the 84th minute by
Shelby Cape after beating a defender off the dribble before finding the back of the net.
Haley Van Houweling had a strong opening day outing for the Royals between the posts, securing 5 saves and allowed only 1 goal against a Brewton-Parker squad who scored 8 goals in their opener earlier in the week. Warner ended the game with 8 goals on 36 total shots, 19 of which were on goal, 6 assists and 6 corner kicks.
The Royals will look to continue their strong start to the season when they take on Webber International University in a non-conference match-up on August 29th in Lake Wales.
Up Next:
The Royals will take on the Warriors of Webber International University in non-conference match-up at home on Saturday, August 29th at 7:30pm.
#GodBlessGoRoyals | #TogetherAsOne
