On Thursday (Sept. 10) afternoon at Tiffin, the No. 11-ranked Ashland University women's soccer team used a familiar 2026 formula to win its Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener.
 
One goal and a clean sheet was enough for the Eagles to top the Dragons. AU moves to 3-1-1 overall and 1-0 in the league, as the Eagles begin the quest for a Great Midwest regular-season championship three-peat.
 
All three of Ashland's wins so far this season have been by 1-0 counts, and those goals have been scored in the 42^nd, 64^th and 51^st minutes.
 
Ashland now is 42-0-11 in its last 53 Great Midwest regular-season outings, and all-time in G-MAC regular-season play, AU sports a 57-1-13 record.
 
Thursday's first half ended in a nil-nil draw, despite the Eagles taking 17 of the 18 shots in the game's first 45 minutes.
 
Then, early in the second half, in the 51^st minute, sophomore forward Tessa Blain connected for her first goal of the season in front of the Dragon (2-2-1, 0-1) net, on an assist from fellow sophomore forward Cece Craig – her first point of 2026.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Izzy Ezzone made a pair of saves in recording her third shutout of the campaign.
 
The Eagles out-shot the Dragons on Thursday, 31-3, and AU took all 13 of the contest's corner kicks.
 
Ashland has topped Tiffin in 14 consecutive meetings.
 
The Eagles will return to Ferguson Field for the second game of the 2026 conference schedule, Saturday (Sept. 12) at 2 p.m. against Ursuline.