CLAREMORE, Okla. - Freshman Taylor Hallford recorded a hat trick and was one of five players to score a goal for the Rogers State women's soccer team on Tuesday night as the Hillcats cruised to a 7-0 win over Friends University (Kan.) at Soldier Field.
RSU's seven goals is a season high. With her three goals on Tuesday night, Hallford has a team-leading seven goals on the season.
Junior Melissa Subu put the Hillcats on the scoreboard first in the 16th minute of play. Jordan Beasley intercepted the ball from a Falcon defender in the midfield and slotted it through the box to Subu who fired it past the keeper to give RSU a 1-0 lead.
Beasley doubled RSU's advantage in the 22nd minute as she blocked a defender's clearance in the box and the blasted the ball upper 90 near post.
Jianna Piela scored her second goal of the season in the 29th minute as she weaved through the defense and beat the keeper near post to make it a 3-0 game.
Hallford netted consecutive goal in the final 10 minutes prior to intermission. She scored her first goal of the night off a corner kick that she curled into the net on the back side. Her second goal came with a little diligence as the keeper made a diving save on her first attempt but couldn't hold onto the ball and the Sand Springs, Okla. native followed her own shot, passing it into the net.
The Cats took a 5-0 advantage into the locker room at the half. RSU continued to pour on the offense in the second stanza finding the back of the net on two more occasions. Freshman Taylor Geissler scored her first collegiate goal in the 67th minute of play off a cross from Veronica Subu and Hallford rounded out the scoring for RSU and completed her hat trick in the 78th minute as she blasted the ball past the keeper near post on a set piece 35 yards out.
Jordan Harris and Sarah Schneider split time in goal for the Hillcats, earning the shutout. The RSU defense allowed the Falcons just four shots on frame in the contest.
Rogers State (7-1) will return to action a Soldier Field on Saturday as the Hillcats host Missouri Valley at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
