The Culver-Stockton College women's soccer team won its sixth consecutive season opener with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Avila University at a steamy Ellison Poulton Stadium Saturday night.

The season didn't start on a positive note for the Wildcats as starting goalkeeper Mackenzie Frizzell suffered an injury during the pregame warmup and was scratched.

Backup goalkeeper Rylee Loftus stepped in for Frizzell and stopped all three shots she saw to earn the shutout victory.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats put heavy pressure on the Eagles and starting goalkeeper Kenan Ebel. 

C-SC forced three corner kicks and had two shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of the first half.

On the third corner kick, Maggie Tuxhorn sent the ball to the penalty area where it found the foot of McKenna Little. Little turned and found  Tuxhorn coming off the corner and Tuxhorn sent a shot over the outstretched arms of Ebel of for the first and only goal of the gammon the 21st minute.

Avila nearly got the equalizer in the 68th minute when Nikkole Wood put back-to-back shots together.

The initial shot by Wood was stopped by Loftus before Wood gathered the rebound and sent a shot that beat Loftus but clanged off the right goal post and stayed out of the Wildcat net.

The Wildcats ended the game with an 8-6 advantage in total shots with C-SC putting six of its eights shots on target. C-SC garnered 12 corner kicks in the contest, while the Eagles did not attempt a corner kick.

C-SC (1-0) returns to action next Saturday, Aug. 26, with a road game at Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Mo. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.