Alvarado’s Hat Trick Lifts Eagles to Season-Opening Victory

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  (8/23/25) – A hat trick from Yajaira Alvarado lifted the Williams Baptist University women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Evangel in the team's season opener on Saturday night.

The Valor outshot WBU 15-12 on the night, and led in shots on goal 8-4.  

Alvarado's first goal came in the 20th minute to put Williams up 1-0.  After halftime, Alvarado struck for her second with an assist from Illusion Preciado in the 58th to extend the lead.

The Jonesboro, Ark. native completed her hat trick in the 67th minute with an assist from Kelsey Blackwell to put the game out of reach.

Navaeh Larkins took her first win of her career in goal for Williams, making eight saves in 90 minutes between the posts.  Larkins made two saves in the final minute of the match to shut down Evangel's comeback hopes.

The win is WBU's first over Evangel since Sept. 15, 2015, snapping an eight game losing streak to the Valor.  It is the first season opening win for the Lady Eagles since the 2019 campaign.

Next, WBU will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to face former conference opponent Missouri Baptist on Wednesday, Aug. 27.  Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Spartan Field.