CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Senior Katie O’Neill made the most of one of her last appearances on the Transamerica Field turf, as she tallied the first hat trick of her career, and the 13th in program history, as Charlotte scored early and never looked back to hand Louisiana Tech a 4-0 setback Friday night. O’Neill was one of five seniors, joining Rebecca Beatty, Perri Bonner, Shelby Hicks and Kaitlin Walker who were honored pregame during Senior Night ceremonies.

O’Neill, an All-Conference USA Third Team choice last fall in her first campaign with the Niners, entered the contest without a goal to her credit this season. It did not take long for her to find her first of the night, scoring just 21 seconds into the match as a pair of passes between junior Martha Thomas and freshman Megan Greene landed at O’Neill’s feet, who sent her shot low past starting netminder Kylee Seto.

The score became the fastest in program history, eclipsing the previous quickest of 26 seconds Charlotte (8-5-1, 4-1-1 C-USA) registered the goal against Houston Oct. 25, 1998.

The 49ers were not done pushing forward as their next shot resulted in another score, this time in the 15th minute. Walker held possession crossing the midfield stripe down the right side, where she sent a pass ahead to Greene. Greene continued the ball forward before crossing it back to Thomas, who redirected it on a header from 20 yards away behind Seto to give the Niners a 2-0 edge at 14:19.

Thomas’ attempt, her first of the match, provided the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year candidate her career shot No. 201, setting an all-time school record and eclipsing the 200 established by Jill Currie (1997-2000) and Whitney Weinraub (2007-10).

The Lady Techsters would get their fair share of attempts, as well, but their main threat, Kathryn Sloan hit the left post on her first chance in the eighth minute. She continued to create opportunities for Louisiana Tech (10-4-1, 2-3 C-USA) but would send her shots high or wide of the goal frame.

O’Neill then owned the second half, providing the offense for both sides with her next two goals. Her first came in the 71st minute, as freshman Riley Orr utilized her corner kick specialty to place the ball into the dangerous six-yard box. Fellow rookie Julia Grainda had the first look at it but it was turned away by the LA Tech defense. The attempted clear was lifted high but O’Neill came running in to put her head on it and send it just over the goal line. After a brief indecision, the goal was awarded at the 70:33 mark and it chased Seto from the game.

O’Neill then capped her magical night just over three minutes later. As the Lady Techsters again were looking to clear but reserve goalkeeper’s Carlotta Cartelli’s pass out fell at O’Neill’s feet. She never hesitated in returning the ball from where it came, slotting it to the right post for the hat trick at 73:41.

O’Neill’s hat trick is the first for the 49ers since Macky Wingo had the second of her career Nov. 5, 2010, vs. La Salle in the Atlantic 10 Championships in Kingston, Rhode Island. The 13 hat tricks in program history have now been accomplished by 11 different players.

O’Neill also becomes the second Charlotte senior to find the back of the net for the first time in a season on Senior Night in consecutive years, joining Victoria Fubara last fall.

Sloan led all players with her four shots, edging out O’Neill by one. Thomas was the only other player with multiple attempts.

Shelden garnered her third shutout of the campaign, all against C-USA opponents, and her second straight. It also is just the second time all season LA Tech has been held without a goal.

The Niners will return to action to close the home regular-season slate by playing host to Southern Miss at 1 p.m. Sunday.

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