Wednesday, October 04, 2000

10/3/00 Johnson City, Tenn.-- The East Tennessee State women's soccer team stepped out of conference action this afternoon and cruised to a 9-0 victory over South Carolina State at the Libety Bell Soccer Complex.

Freshman Melissa Wilder scored three times to record the second hat-trick in ETSU soccer history. The first hat trick in program history was recorded by Lisa Gallagher in a 3-0 win against Chattanooga during the 1998 season.

Her first goal came 22 seconds into the match as Rebekah Eisenberg and Elizabeth Smith threaded the ball through the Bulldog defense to a wide open Wilder. Wilder added her second goal of the afternoon after receiving a cross from Smith with 4:22 elapsed.

Lisa Gallagher also had a stellar performance as she scored twice with her first goal coming at the 12:25 mark when junior Lena Summers delivered a pass and Gallagher put it home from ten-yards out. Gallagher also added her second goal with an assist from Courtney Edde with 16:04 elapsed.

ETSU also received goals from freshman Shawn O'Donnell, freshman Andrea Brown, Summers and Redfern.

It was a good win and a great confidence builder for our team, said head coach Heather Henson. It gave us a chance to work on our attacking offense and to gain momentum going into our matches against Chattanooga and Western Carolina.

Freshman goalkeeper Heather Sanden notched one save and picked up her second win of the year.

The Bucs will return to action Friday, October 6 as they host in-state rival Chattanooga. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Liberty Bell Soccer Complex.