SARASOTA, Fla. - New College of Florida Women's Soccer opened the 2026 season in record-setting fashion Thursday evening, rolling past Florida Polytechnic University 16-0 at NCF Bayfront.
The Mighty Banyans (1-0) set new single-game program records for goals, shots and shots on goal, while 11 different players found the back of the net. NCF finished the night with 70 shots, including 33 on goal, while holding Florida Poly without a shot.
NCF's 16 goals in the season opener also surpassed its total of 11 from the entire 2025 season, while the Mighty Banyans' five assists surpassed last season's total of two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
NCF controlled the match from the opening whistle, firing eight shots before Naomi Woerner finally broke through with the first goal of the season in the 10th minute.
The Mighty Banyans didn't wait long to add another. Sarah Benjamin found the back of the net less than two minutes later off an assist from Yasmim Fialho Melo before Woerner struck again in the 15th minute to quickly push the advantage to 3-0.
NCF continued to generate chances throughout the opening half before Aubrey Mau scored off a Caroline Langsam assist in the 35th minute. Ashlyn Florio followed with her first collegiate goal in the 40th minute, assisted by Mau, to send the Mighty Banyans into halftime ahead 5-0.
The second half quickly turned into an offensive avalanche.
Abigail Craig opened the second-half scoring in the 49th minute before Chole Nickell scored twice in a span of just over two minutes. Faith Hardy converted a penalty kick between Nickell's two goals as NCF scored four times in less than five minutes to stretch its lead to 9-0.
Woerner completed her hat trick in the 54th minute off an assist from Hardy before Hardy scored her second goal of the match in the 59th minute off an assist from Benjamin.
Daniela Nieto continued the scoring in the 62nd minute before Grace Carpenter found the back of the net in the 66th for the first collegiate goal of her career.
Emma Todd scored in the 78th minute, Reese John recorded her first collegiate goal in the 81st and Nieto closed the historic performance with her second goal of the match in the 88th minute.
NCF scored 11 times in the second half to finish off the 16-0 victory.
THE TURNING POINT
The Mighty Banyans didn't just break through once. They opened the floodgates.
Woerner's opening goal at the 9:45 mark was followed by goals from Benjamin and Woerner over the next 4:24, turning a scoreless match into a 3-0 NCF advantage before 15 minutes had elapsed.
NCF never looked back, eventually finishing the opening half with five goals before scoring 11 more after the break.
BY THE NUMBERS
16
Goals scored by NCF, setting a new single-game program record.
70
Shots taken by the Mighty Banyans, also establishing a new program record.
33
Shots on goal, the third single-game program record established Thursday.
11
Different Mighty Banyans found the back of the net also the number of second-half goals scored by NCF. The Mighty Banyans also surpassed their entire 2025 season total of 11 goals during Thursday's victory.
9
Career goals for Naomi Woerner, who became NCF's all-time leader in goals scored.
5
Assists recorded by the Mighty Banyans, three more than NCF recorded during the entire 2025 season.
0
Shots allowed by the NCF defense.
STAT LEADERS
Goals: Naomi Woerner - 3; Chole Nickell - 2; Daniela Nieto - 2; Faith Hardy - 2; Sarah Benjamin - 1; Aubrey Mau - 1; Abigail Craig - 1; Ashlyn Florio - 1; Grace Carpenter - 1; Emma Todd - 1; Reese John - 1
Assists: Sarah Benjamin - 1; Faith Hardy - 1; Yasmim Fialho Melo - 1; Caroline Langsam - 1; Aubrey Mau - 1
Shots: Chole Nickell - 10
Shots on Goal: Naomi Woerner - 4; Chole Nickell - 4
Goalkeepers: Avaya Wright - 45 minutes, 0 goals allowed, 0 saves; Ana Armond Generoso - 45 minutes, 0 goals allowed, 0 saves
UP NEXT: NCF returns to the Bayfront next Tuesday, welcoming Florida National for a 4 p.m. EST matchup.
