Ejere's Two Goals In First Half Lift Women's Soccer to Season Opening Win

SAN ANTONIO – Picking up right where she left off at the end of last season, Juni Ejere scored a pair of goals to help lift St. Mary's Women's Soccer to a season-opening 4-0 victory over Southern Nazarene on Thursday evening.
 
Ejere, a senior from Weatherford, Texas scored four goals in the final five games of the 2021 season and kicked off 2022 by scoring back-to-back goals in the first half. Fellow senior  Alexis Garcia (West Covina, Calif.) and sophomore Eliza Merrion (Park City, Utah) each added a score in the second half for the 4-0 victory.
 
Senior Jackie Miller (El Paso, Texas) had a pair of assists on the night, while senior Megan Copeland (San Antonio) and freshman Sydney Varela (El Paso) each tallied an assist.
 
The Rattlers completely controlled the pace of the match, allowing the Storm only three shots all evening.
 
Sophomore Rebecca Difronzo (Bari, Italy) was in goal the entire 90 minutes, recording her fourth career solo shutout. She also has one combined shutout from 2021. She made two saves against SNU and now needs just two more saves for 100 in her career.
 
She'll get the opportunity on Saturday when the Rattlers host Missouri Western State at Noon on the Sigma Beta Chi pitch.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• For the second time in her StMU career, senior Juni Ejere scored two goals in a game, putting the first two in the back of the net. She also scored a pair against Western Colorado on Sept. 17, 2021.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Difronzo now needs two saves for 100 in her career after recording two against the Storm.
• Two of Alexis Garcia's goals at St. Mary's have come against Southern Nazarene as she also scored on last season on Sept. 9.
• This is the first time since 2017 the Rattlers have won their first contest of the season. In 2018, StMU tied Eastern New Mexico, 1-1, but the team had dropped three straight openers entering Thursday.