WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross freshman forward Aly Spencer (Tewksbury, Mass.) tallied the 14th hat trick in program history and also recorded an assist to help lead the Crusaders to a 5-0 victory over LIU Brooklyn in non-conference women’s soccer action on Monday afternoon at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium. With the win, the Crusaders improve their record to 2-0 on the season, while the Blackbirds fall to 0-2 overall. The two wins to open the campaign are the most since the 2009 squad also began the year 2-0. 

 

Spencer’s seven points tie her for the third-most points in a single game in Holy Cross history. In addition, the eight goals scored by Holy Cross to begin the season are the most since the 2001 team also had eight goals through two games. 

 

Spencer scored the game’s first goal in the 13th minute, as she received a pass from senior midfielder Gina Righini (Salem, N.H.) and drove home a shot from the left side. Just over 13 minutes later (26:05), Spencer tallied her second goal of the contest. She gathered a pass from junior forward Annie Galvin (Attleboro, Mass.) and lofted a shot from the left side over Blackbird goalkeeper Jessica Montrose to give the Crusaders the 2-0 lead. 

 

Holy Cross increased its margin to three goals at the 37:04 mark of the contest. Junior midfielder Jenna Scanlon (Auburn, Mass.) sent in a deep cross from the left side that was headed home by freshman forward Caitlin Harty (Beverly, Mass.) to give the Crusaders the 3-0 lead at the half. 

 

In the second stanza, Holy Cross went ahead 4-0 (52:09), when junior defender Sarah Price (Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J.) headed in her first collegiate goal off a pass by Spencer from the right side. Spencer tallied the game’s final goal in the 61st minute to make the score its final, 5-0. She received a pass from Galvin inside the box and drove the ball into the back of the net. 

 

Crusader senior Carly McCabe (Barrington, R.I.) and sophomore Brooke Holle (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) combined for the shutout, each making one save apiece. Montrose made four saves for the Blackbirds. Holy Cross held advantages in total shots (17-5), shots on goal (9-2) and corner kicks (10-0). 

 

The Crusaders return to action on Thursday, August 28, when they will travel to New Hampshire for a 7:00 p.m. contest. 

 

You can follow Holy Cross Athletics on Twitter @GoHolyCross as well as the women’s soccer team @HCWSoccer.