On Saturday (Aug. 29) night at Ferguson Field, the No. 22-ranked Ashland University women's soccer team topped Point Park, 1-0 – giving the Eagles their first win of the young 2026 season.
"We had the ball a lot," said Ashland (1-0-1) head coach
Cayleb Paulino. "We had to be super-organized off the counter. I think it's like a classic conference game for us. They made things super-difficult.
"We found a way to get a result, so at the end of the day, you have to be happy to get a clean sheet."
Saturday night's game was the first between the two programs.
Point Park is 0-2.
The scoreless tie was broken by Ashland in the 43
rd minute, when, after the first VAR review in Ferguson Field history was upheld, freshman forward/midfielder
Addi Pittman's corner kick found its way to senior defender
Adi Turnbaugh, whose long kick found the back of the Pioneer goal.
It was Turnbaugh's first collegiate goal, and Pittman's first collegiate assist.
"I think it was a team win," Turnbaugh said. "We got lucky on that corner kick that I was backside. It was definitely a group effort and hard-fought win.
"Just the feeling is so awesome. Getting that goal tonight, I felt the love from my teammates."
"Set pieces are something that we've been practicing on a lot," Paulino noted. "Adi stepped up and put us up 1-0."
Sophomore goalkeeper
Izzy Ezzone recorded her second career collegiate clean sheet, making three saves. It also was the 67
th shutout under Paulino's guidance in five-plus seasons.
Ashland out-shot Point Park, 11-3, and the Eagles took 11 of the game's 12 corner kicks.
The Eagles will go out on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Florida to take on No. 1-ranked Florida Tech at 7 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 3).
"For us, you're challenging yourself against the defending national champions, and that's what we want," Paulino said.
Added Turnbaugh, "We're super-excited we're going to play the national champs from last year. It's going to be an awesome challenge for us. I think we're ready for it."
