LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A hat trick and two assists from junior midfielder Eryn Brown led the Portland State women's soccer team to a 7-0 win over New Mexico State Sunday at the UNLV Tournament at Peter Johann Field, giving the Vikings a convincing first win of the season.
 
Brown's eight total points in the match set a new single-match record at PSU, surpassing Jamie Blakesley and Megan Plinski, who had previously shared the record at seven.
 
Meanwhile, the Vikings' (1-3-0) seven goals against the Aggies (2-2-0) tied the second most in a single match by a Vikings team since 2002. The Vikings had previously scored seven goals in a 7-0 win over Southern Utah on Sept. 14, 2002.  
 
Brown and the Vikings started their scoring outburst early, as the team took a 4-0 lead into halftime behind two goals from Brown. Brown scored the second and fourth goals of the match for PSU, scoring unassisted in the 23rd and 42nd minutes. Brown stole the ball from the New Mexico State goalkeeper on her first goal, then outraced the entire Aggie defense, including the goalkeeper, to gain the ball on her second.
 
Brown's scores followed goals by sophomore midfielder Cori Bianchini and junior midfielder Ariana Cooley in the 20th and 31st minute, respectively. Bianchini opened the scoring in the match for the Vikings after taking a ball from sophomore midfielder Emma Cooney and driving it to the far post. Cooley then scored on a header after fielding the rebound of a shot from freshman midfielder Aurora Bodenhamer that deflected off the crossbar.
 
The four first-half goals were the most goals in a single half by PSU since the team scored four goals in the second half of a 4-1 win over North Florida on Sept. 9, 2007. The Viks had not scored four goals in a first half since scoring six goals in the first half of an 8-0 win over Central Washington on Sept. 22, 2002.
 
Brown led the Viks on a high-scoring second-half, too, starting with her third goal of the match in the 53rd minute. Brown then assisted on the Viks' final two goals of the match, setting up freshman midfielder Abbey Bergquist and Bodenhamer in the 58th and 71st minutes, respectively.
 
Overall, the Viks were efficient in their scoring Sunday, recording their seven goals on only 12 total shots.
 
Lost in the team's high offensive output, meanwhile, was the Viks' first shutout of the season. Sophomore goalkeepers Caitlin Plese and Angela Haluska combined for the shutout, with Plese making four saves over the first 72 minutes of the match while Haluska made one save over the final 18 minutes.
 
The Vikings return to action next weekend, when they host CSU Bakersfield Saturday, Sept. 7, at Hillsboro Stadium. The match will kick off at 1 p.m. 
 
Game Notes: Brown's three goals Sunday give her nine in her PSU career, moving her into a tie for seventh all-time in goals scored at Portland State…Brown's hat trick was the first of her career, and the first by a Viking since Megan Martin recorded a hat trick against Sacramento State on Sept. 30, 2011…The Viks had not scored in the first half of a match this season before Sunday, but have now outscored their opponents 4-2 in the first half of their four matches this season…Cooley, Bergquist and Bodenhamer's goals Sunday were the first of their PSU careers…Cooley's first career goal came in the junior's 39th career appearance for the Vikings…Bergquist became the first freshman to score a goal for the Vikings this season…Sunday's match was the first in the all-time series between PSU and New Mexico State…New Mexico State is only in its fifth season as a program. 

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