TACOMA, Wash. — Hannah Cecil tallied her first collegiate hat-trick on Sunday, powering the Pacific Lutheran University women's soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Willamette University at East Field to remain tied for first place in the Northwest Conference standings.
The Lutes (12-1-2, 9-1-1 NWC) held a 9-1 edge in shots in the opening half, including one that rattled off the crossbar and entered the halftime break tied 0-0 with the visiting Bearcats (5-9-1, 3-8-1 NWC). Willamette drew first blood in the second half, scoring in the 50th minute.
The Bearcat lead proved fleeting, with a
Hannah Cecil header tying the game in the 53rd minute with
Julia Causbie registering the assist. Cecil hammered in the eventual game-winner in the 77th minute off a pass from
Alyssa Leong before completing the hat-trick just 48-seconds later with Causbie netting her second assist of the game. Leong tacked on a penalty kick goal in the 79th minute, capping off a 26-minute scoring binge for PLU.
The red-hot Cecil has 12 goals on the season, including five in the last two games for the Lutes who have won four straight and are unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1).
PLU finished the game with a 17-6 edge in shots, including a 12-5 disparity in shots on goal.
Shaylin Cesar played all 90 minutes in goal, racking up four saves for the Lutes. The Bearcats' Rachel Compton stopped seven shots and yielded four goals on the day.
Pacific Lutheran faces crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound on Wednesday afternoon with first place in the NWC standings on the line. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
