Box Score The OUAZ Spirit opened the home schedule with a beautiful clean sheet and a pair of goals by one-time "Super Sub" Melinda Lertzman.
 
Akela Patterson (1-0) got the win in the season opener after saving all three shots that were on frame from the Warriors (0-2-0).
 
Lertzman had scored nine times in her career for the Spirit (1-0-0), all coming from off-the-bench.  She started the 2023 season with a pair of goals in a starting role.  In the first half, Rowan Kerley stole the ball off of a Warrior player, she passed it up field and after a couple of bounces, Harlee Kuntz controlled the ball and crossed it into Lertzman for the first goal of the year in the 27th minute.
 
Late in the second half (85th minute), Lertzman took control of the ball, on a rebound and then put it in the back of the net for her second goal of the night.
 
The ladies will recover on Sunday before taking on cross-Valley rival Benedictine University of Mesa on Monday at 7:00 p.m. at Spirit Field in Surprise.