Tess Follman netted her first career hat trick and Maggie Boehler added a pair of goals to lead the Pitt-Bradford women’s soccer team over visiting Alfred 5-1 Wednesday.

The Panthers improved to 3-0 on the season and won their home opener for the third consecutive year.

Follman scored minutes into the contest on a rebound after Boehler’s shot bounced off the right post. The Panthers would have several more chances in the opening half yet failed to take advantage and only led 1-0 at the break.

In the second half, Pitt-Bradford began to capitalize on its chances, putting the game away in quick fashion. Sarah Turner played a pass through to a streaking Boehler on the left side and she finished with a kick inside the box that scored in the near corner, extending the lead to 2-0.

Moments later, the Panthers would strike three times in a span of seven minutes. Andrea Gundlach played a ball ahead to Follman, who’s shot deflected off the leaping Alfred goalkeeper and bounced in, stretching the advantage to 3-0. Boehler scored on the nearly an identical play minutes later, again receiving the pass from Gundlach.

Follman converted the hat trick in the 71st minute, scoring off a set piece from Jamie Christensen. It was the first hat trick since her teammate, Dani Zeamer, accomplished the feat against Chatham on Sept. 7, 2010.

Alfred’s only tally came in the closing seconds on a ball that just escaped the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Kayla Bott.

Pitt-Bradford outshot the Saxons 19-3, and Bott and Alisa Cornell each recorded a save in net.

“The slow tempo of the first half didn’t suit us,” said head coach Mike Idland. “When the team committed to a higher tempo game in the second half, both offensively and defensively, that made all the difference.”

The Panthers will look to remain undefeated when they travel to Saint Vincent Friday for a 2 p.m. match.

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