LA GRANDE, Ore. – In a span of 11 minutes in the second half, the Eastern Oregon University women's soccer team scored six goals – that's the kind of day it was for the Mountaineers.
Freshman forward Zoe Anderson completed the first hat trick by a Mountaineer women's soccer player since 2011, as EOU simply dominated Sierra Nevada College in its home opener, 13-0.
After the match, Anderson spoke about her hat trick and how the team can utilize the win and push forward.
The shutout marked the largest win by the Mountaineers in program history, and the 13 goals set a new school record that dated back to 2003.
"I'm glad that our team got our second shutout of the season," said head women's soccer coach Justin Wagar. "We had a lull in the middle of the game and allowed some chances, but refocused to start the second half and played better team soccer."
The Mountaineers set the tempo in the 10th and 11th minutes of the match, as both Anderson and sophomore forward Amanda Durrant scored goals in a span of 57 seconds to give EOU an early 2-0 lead.
After Anderson found the back of the net once again in the 18th minute, freshman midfielder Kendall Loreth notched the final goal of the first half, as EOU enjoyed a 4-0 advantage at intermission.
Just a little over three minutes into the second stanza, the Mountaineers put the hammer down on the Eagles, as five different players scored in a span of 11 minutes.
Sophomore forward Morgan Delay collected back-to-back goals to extend EOU's lead to six (6-0), and then Anderson, sophomore midfielder Makensie Forsyth, freshman forward Alexandria Cuaresma, and senior midfielder Haley Hill added to the damage to put the contest out of reach, 10-0.
At the 67th minute, Durrant sent one in the back of the net to tie the school record, and then sophomore forward Maddi Cillay booked the record-breaking goal in the 71st minute to grant the Mountaineers a 12-0 lead. Lastly, freshman forward Abri Cardenas capped the 13-goal explosion for EOU.
With the victory, the Mountaineers improved to 2-0 on the season. EOU needs just one more win to match last season's win total.
The Mountaineers return to the pitch on Sept. 1 against Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., at 1:30 p.m.
"We've got a tough challenge coming up on the road at Menlo College, a team that went to the national tournament last year," said Wagar. "It will be good a good measuring stick for our program and give us a better idea of what we need to work on."
