FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10-3-06

College Soccer: AASU 5, USC Upstate 2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Freshman forward Kristin Burton recorded the first hat trick in Armstrong Atlantic women’s soccer history as the Pirates defeated USC Upstate, 5-2, in a Peach Belt Conference match at Cingular Field on Tuesday afternoon in Savannah.

Burton delivered two first-half goals to give the Pirates a 2-0 advantage at intermission. Her first goal came in the 17th minute on a through ball by Jamie Craine, then her second came in the 32nd minute on a through ball by Amaka Ofuani. AASU outshot the Spartans in the first half, 12-7, but USC Upstate keeper Diana Wabnitz made six first-half saves to keep the Spartans in the match.

Just five minutes into the second half, the Spartans would tally their first goal when Nicole Trawick convered on a through ball, beating AASU keeper Tarra Kohler to make the score, 2-1. Just three minutes later, however, Burton would deliver the hat trick, taking a pass from Shana Neves and beating Wabnitz for the goal.

The flurry of action in the second half continued as three goals were scored in a three minute stretch midway through the half. USC Upstate cut the lead to 3-2 on Caroline Verna’s goal in the 75th minute, but Amaka Ofuani quickly gave AASU back a two-goal lead, scoring off of a pass from Kristin Savoy less than a minute later to make the score, 4-2. Shana Neves capped the scoring in the 78th minute, beating Wabnitz one-on-one after a through ball from Ofuani.

Wabnitz made 14 saves on the afternoon for USC Upstate as the Pirates placed 19 of their 31 shots on target. USC Upstate collected 15 shots on the day.

The Pirates next travel to Newberry for a key South Region matchup with the Indians on Saturday, October 7, at 2:00 p.m. USC Upstate is next at Columbus State for a key PBC matchup with the Cougars at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

- Pirates -