BELLEVILLE, ON - The Durham College women's soccer team made a big statement to kickoff their 2023 OCAA regular season campaign with a 9-0 win over the Loyalist Lancers.

Durham immediately showcased their offensive power in the sixth minute when Sage Thomas-Roberts (Toronto, ON) scored her first goal of the season.

Thomas-Roberts finished with double digit goals in 2022, scoring 10 goals in nine appearances. Sage showed to be on a mission to blast past that this year, scoring again in the 10th minute to put the Lords up by two.

Only five minutes later, newcomer striker Isabel Sullivan (Bowmanville, ON) made an immediate impact with her new school, putting the Lords up by three. 

Erika Bjorgum (Kingman, AB) added her name to the scoresheet in the 23rd minute and Sullivan struck again two minutes later, leaving Loyalist's defence desperately searching for answers. They would hold off the Lords for 20 minutes until the whistle blew for halftime with the visitors leading by five.

Thomas-Roberts completed the hat trick in the 59th minute. Bjorgum joined Sage in that territory, adding two more goals to her tally in quick succession with 67th and 69th minute strikes.

The final blow came from defender Madelyn Vickery (Whitby, ON), who scored her first career OCAA goal in the 71st minute to make it three goals in four minutes for Durham.

With a 9-0 win, Bruce Cullen picked up his first OCAA win since becoming head coach of the Durham College women's soccer program.

Durham will look to carry their momentum into Wednesday as they make the trip to Peterborough for a 6:00 PM kickoff against the Fleming Phoenix.