SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Senior forward Crystal Schuder had been itching for a hat trick. Coming into tonight's Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) semifinal match against College of Idaho (C of I), Schuder had three two-goal performances this season.

Persistence paid off, as the first-team all-conference selection netted her first-career hat trick to lead the Eastern Oregon University women's soccer team past C of I, 4-0, to advance to the 2015 CCC Championship and clinch the program's first-ever bid to the NAIA National Tournament.  

"So proud of the team," said head women's soccer coach Justin Wagar. "They've worked so hard and kept believing in our goals, then went out and made them a reality. We qualified for Nationals with a great team effort tonight. All of our players played fantastic, and Crystal Schuder helped to bring it home. I couldn't be happier for the team right now."

Key Performances 
Schuder scored twice in the second half to extend EOU's lead and put C of I out of reach. Meanwhile, sophomore midfielder Makensie Forsyth tallied a goal late in the first stanza to give the Navy and Gold a two-score advantage into halftime.

Freshman forward Zoe Anderson fired four shots and added one assist for the Mountaineers. 

In goal, junior Jessica Parker registered two saves en route to earning her ninth shutout of the season.

The Mountaineers dominated in the shot department, 17-9.

The Storyline
EOU (17-2, 9-2 CCC) launched two shots early until the third one prevailed, as Schuder beat her defender and fired a left-footed heave past C of I's Brittany Houghton in the 15th minute.  

The Mountaineers took a 2-0 advantage in the 35th minute after Forsyth belted a shot in the top right corner to put the pressure on C of I.  

The Yotes (14-4, 9-2 CCC) tried to make the game close, tallying two shots in the opening three minutes of the second half. But in the 59th minute, Anderson sailed in a corner kick to Schuder who capitalized with a score to extend EOU's lead to three.

Determined for the hat trick, Schuder scored on a chip shot in the 62nd minute to make it a 4-0 game, and the Navy and Gold never looked back. 

Stats of the Game
3 – Goals by Schuder, the second Mountaineer (Anderson) to register a hat trick this season.

1st – Trip to the NAIA National Championships in EOU women's soccer history.

1st – Trip to the CCC Championship game in EOU women's soccer history.

Up Next
The Mountaineers will battle Carroll in the CCC Championship on Saturday in Springfield, Ore., at 3 p.m.