Avona's Hat Trick Leads CSU Past IUPUI, 5-1

by CSU Sports Information

August 24, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Jaime Avona recorded just the second hat trick in Cleveland State women's soccer program history and Valerie Stahl added two goals to lead the Vikings to a 5-1 win at IUPUI on Friday evening.

Avona joins Ashley Walchak as the only players in school history with three goals in one match. Walchak accomplished the feat on Aug. 27, 2006, against Delaware State.

Stahl also added an assist, while Taylor Vidovic, Vickie Havas and Lynsay Strahorn also chipped in an assist. For Havas, it was her third assist in the last two games after tallying two in Sunday's win at Bowling Green.

Today's win improved the Vikings to 2-1, while IUPUI fell to 0-3.

"It was a better start than it was on Sunday, but we still gave up the first goal and we can't afford to keep doing that going forward," head coach Derrek Falor said. "We were able to respond quickly and then kept the pressure on for the rest of the match and that was good to see."

The five goals scored are the second most in program history, topped only by the six scored in a win against Delaware State (8/27/06).

The Vikings, who were limited to just 15 shots and only four on goal in their first two matches this year, blistered the Jaguars with 23 shots today, including 13 shots on goal.

Things did not start out well for CSU as the Jaguars got on the board just 2:37 into the match. But the lead didn't last long as Stahl came back just 42 seconds later with her first goal of the season and sixth of her career to knot the contest at 1-1.

Avona made it 2-1 in favor of CSU at the 15:09 mark of the first half with her first tally of the season off a Havas assist.

It would stay that way through halftime, but Avona's second goal of the match off a Vidovic assist in the 60th minute gave CSU a 3-1 lead and Stahl's second goal of the match off a Strahorn assist gave the Vikings a 4-1 lead at the 69:02 mark.

With the outcome no longer in doubt, Avona provided one last firework to the match, scoring her third goal of the night off a Stahl assist in the 73rd minute.

Sarah Wood made seven saves in goal for the Vikings.

The Vikings are back in action on Sunday (Aug. 26) when CSU heads to Eastern Illinois for a 2:00 p.m. contest.