The UNA Lions shut out the Spring Hill Badgers 5-0 Thursday night to improve to 9-1-1 overall and 5-1 in the Gulf South Conference.

Three Lions scored goals to lead UNA to the decisive conference win.

Margarida Sousa started the scoring for UNA in the 16th minute. The freshman midfielder found the end of an Ele Costello free kick and volleyed it to give the Lions the 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later, senior forward Chloe Richards added a goal of her own – her 17th of the season – off an assist from sophomore midfielder Beatriz Fernandes.

Right before the half, Sousa netted another goal giving UNA a 3-0 lead at the break. Sousa finished the match with five points.

“Margarida is back to her best now,” said head coach Chris Walker. “She was involved in everything. She played great defensively—got herself a couple of goals and a couple of assists.”

The Lions continued to find goals in the second half. Two minutes in to the period, Richards scored her second goal off another assist from Costello.

Junior defender Susan Lang capped the scoring with her first goal of the season in the 79th minute, giving UNA the final 5-0 lead.

“It felt good (to score),” Lang said. “It’s always good to get a goal, but I don’t care really care who gets the goals as long as they’re going in.”

UNA has scored seven goals in two games since falling to Valdosta State Oct. 2. The win against Spring Hill gives UNA a confidence boost headed into a pivotal GSC matchup against West Florida.

“(West Florida) is never an easy place to play,” Walker said. “We’re confident right now. We’re scoring goals, and hopefully we can carry it on. The conference is in our own hands right now, so it means a lot to both teams.”

UNA travels to Pensacola, Florida, to take on the Argonauts Oct. 11.