CONWAY, Ark. – "When it rains, it pours" is usually saved for the clouds and storms, but it was a fitting phrase for the Central Arkansas women's soccer team on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon. Firing on all cylinders, the Bears dismantled Kennesaw State in their ASUN home opener 5-0 to coast to another conference victory.
 
The win kept the Bears perfect in conference, and improved their record to 3-5-2 on the year, now 2-0 in the ASUN. Four Bears scored in the match, with Sydney Brough recording a brace as Central Arkansas tallied its most goals in an ASUN game since October 7, 2021.
 
It didn't take long for Central Arkansas to get on the board, as Kelly Van Gundy scored in the 16^th minute on a couple of great passes from Brough and Anna Kerr. It was the second-fastest goal of the season for the Bears, and the third score of the season for Van Gundy, setting a new season high for the junior midfielder.
 
Driving down the field again just after the 30^th minute, Van Gundy sent a ball wide for Gabby Thies, with the intent of getting the ball out for a service back into a scoring position. Instead, the defender skied it, sending an absolute rainbow toward the goal that teardropped off the far post and in, just over the outstretched Owl keeper. It was the first-career goal for Thies, who has been a mainstay on the backline over the last couple of seasons. Kennesaw State would try to answer before halftime, but the lone shot on goal trickled into the box for Kajsa Pruner to corral.
 
Like clockwork out of the break, 15 minutes and change into the second half yielded another score. Trace Pavatt dished to Megan Moudy just outside the penalty box, and after a couple of quick moves to get some space, the freshman drilled it into the lower right corner, extending the lead to a season-high three goals. Brough nearly added another within a minute, but her shot was saved by the Kennesaw State goalie.
 
The Owls started to take back possession through the middle of the second half, maintaining the ball in the Bears' defensive third for a bulk of the latter part of the second half. Central Arkansas continued to clear the ball, but only to see it driven right back in. A shot in the 65^th minute forced Pruner into another save, a count that would ultimately reach four total saves by the junior keeper. The Owls would take three more shots before the end of the game, with Pruner making a terrific save in a one-on-one situation with an Owl forward.
 
Once the Bears broke the ball back out of their defensive third, it was off to the races again. Earning a corner with under ten minutes, Emma Rehm would get the ball to Thies, who sent it toward the goal. Brough, staying active near the keeper, redirected the ball with a nifty behind-the-back shuffle and slid the ball home to make it a 4-0 game. Less than two minutes later, Brough would score again, intercepting a clearance from a free kick and lofting it over the keeper for the final score.
 
Sunday's win marked the fourth multi-goal match in Brough's career, and she joins Moudy and Van Gundy for team lead with three scores. Thies added herself to the list of Bears with goals this season, a number that grew to seven on Sunday.
 
The Bears are back at it on Thursday, playing two mor eat home this week and starting with Stetson. Kickoff against the Hatters is set for 7 p.m. at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.