Oct. 17, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Behind a hat trick from sophomore Cat Walker, the San Diego State women's soccer team picked up its first Mountain West Conference victory in impressive fashion, downing Air Force, 7-0, Friday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck.
SDSU (5-8-2; 1-3-0 MWC) established a Sports Deck record with seven goals and 27 shot on the day. Walker, meanwhile, was successful on three of her four attempts, notching the program's first hat trick since Kim Castellanos accomplished the feat in 2000.
Walker gave the Aztecs an early 1-0 lead at the 18:33 mark when she beat her defender on the right side of the box and found the back of the net from 12 yards out.
Junior Jessica Gordon tacked on one more point for the Scarlet and Black before the end of the half when she struck in the 36th minute. Freshman Taylor Canatsey dumped junior Ali Lokanc's initial cross off to Gordon who took one dribble around her defender before placing the ball into the bottom left corner.
After the break, the Aztecs went on an offensive tear, scoring five times before the end of the game. Walker picked up her second goal of the game on a one-timer from sophomore Britney Bennett. SDSU then took a 4-0 lead at the 58:36 mark as Brooke Holliday scored on a cross from Gordon for her first tally of the season.
Freshman Tiffany Hurst also earned her first collegiate goal in the 64th minute before Walker completed a hat trick with her team-leading eighth score of the season just 1:36 later. Lokanc concluded the onslaught when she scored on a breakaway at the 68:02 mark.
The Aztecs dominated possession from the start, out shooting the Falcons (3-11-0; 0-4-0 MWC), 27-6, with 21 of those attempts coming on goal. Christi Yount anchored the defensive effort with four saves in her second start of the season.
San Diego State will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 19, when it welcomes Wyoming to the Sports Deck for a 2:30 p.m. PT showdown.