Texas Tech Athletics
Northwestern State
Harrison's Hat Trick Powers Tech Past Demons
September 14, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas - Brittney Harrison completed the hat trick within the first 15 minutes of the match as the Texas Tech offense connected on five goals in a 5-1 route of Northwestern State Sunday at the John Walker Soccer Complex.
Harrison completed just the sixth hat trick in school history and the first since Chessa Purser had five goals against Prairie View A&M in 2006. The hat trick was also the fastest achieved in school history as Harrison matched the school record for most goals in the first half.
Before Harrison began her run of goals, Maegan Wilber would start the scoring for the Red Raiders in only the 4th minute, taking a Lauren Yelinek cross that was tapped to Wilber by Katie Hinds for her first goal of the season.
Harrison would begin to put the match out of reach less than a minute later, beating the defense down the left side to make the score 2-0 five minutes into the match. Only four minutes later, Harrison would take a Hinds' cross from the right side for and tap it in from only a few feet out.
Harrison would round out the first half scoring in the 13th minute, taking a Taylor Lytle pass on the left side of the box and firing it right into the Northwestern State goalkeeper before netting the rebound only seconds later. After entering the match with three goals on the season, Harrison has now doubled that number as the junior has six goals through seven matches this season, three shy of her 2006 career-high of nine.
Tech's offense would settle for the remainder of the half as the Red Raiders would head to the locker room with a 4-1 advantage after the Demons connected on a late first half goal in the 43rd minute.
The Red Raiders would be on the attack for most of the second half, nearly netting several shot attempts in the process. Sarabeth Clopton would add Tech's final goal in the 83rd minute, angling a header from the right side of the box into the left net after taking the ball off a Megan Hoffert corner kick.
"It was good to see our team come with some energy after a tough match with Arizona Friday night," Tech head coach Tom Stone said. "Two goals in the first five minutes was a great start. We kind of had a lull at the end of the first half, but we took it back in the second half. Hopefully we will build on this performance and come out ready Thursday night."
Tech dominated NWST statistically, attempting 29 shot attempts, including 13 on-goal, to the Demons' six and nine corner kicks to none.
The Red Raiders return to action this Thurs., Sept. 18, at home against Oral Roberts. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
