Bears Bounce Blazers, 4-1, to Begin Second Half of DAC

IRVING, Texas – Meah Perez surprised herself.

An offensive-minded defender, Perez bent one like Beckham off a corner kick in the 62nd minute. Somehow, it curled into the net on a ball that had her baffled as to how it found its way to the twine.

There was no surprise in the verdict, though, as No. 2 nationally-ranked Dallas College Brookhaven women's soccer team beat host Dallas College North Lake, 4-1, Tuesday to begin the second half of Dallas Athletic Conference play. The Bears moved to 6-2-1 overall, 5-0-1 in the league.

Bailey Clark scored her first goal of the year on a penalty kick in the 53^rd minute in what turned out to be the gamewinning goal. That followed Whitni Newbill's first half goal on an assist from Natalie Ipina. It was the third time Newbill found the back of the net this season.

That's a PK goal for @DCBWomensSoccer's Bailey Clark at @DCNLBlazers

�� https://t.co/UCeRf1AT3R#DACSoccer | #BrookhavenBears pic.twitter.com/NJLeJQOhHb

— Dallas College Athletics (@DallasCollAth) October 3, 2023

Perez, who received a yellow card in the first half, scored her first goal of the season on the bender. She struck again 12 minutes later to extend the Bears' lead to four goals.

North Lake (2-7-3, 1-4-1) became the first team in the DAC to score on the Bears as Lia Santiago banged a free kick off the post in the 82^nd minute to break up Brookhaven's 557-minute shutout streak. It was Santiago's DAC-leading 12^th goal of the season.

The Bears had held opponents scoreless for the past five games, dating back to a 2-1 loss at Holmes Community College a month ago.

Brookhaven keeper Emma Garces (5-0-1) made one save in collecting her second win over the Blazers this season. She'd been in goal for 443 of the 557 shutout minutes. Santiago's goal off the post was the first that got by her this season, which didn't start until the first time the two teams played in the DAC opener Sept. 15.

North Lake keeper Emely Vargas stopped 10 shots for the second time this season.

The Bears will play at Dallas College Eastfield 6 p.m. Friday before concluding the season with a three-game homestand.