Crusaders pick up 1st win of 2018 in Sunday's non-conference match.
Crusaders pick up 1st win of 2018 in Sunday's non-conference match.

Duran Earns Hat Trick in 1st Women's Soccer Victory

IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's soccer team prevailed 4-1 over Howard Payne University on Sunday afternoon. The Crusaders (1-2-1) captured their first victory of the 2018 season, as Elisa Duran (Pomona, Calif.) scored a hat trick with the first three goals for the home team.

Duran broke a scoreless tie at the 16:15 minute mark as she dribbled down the field and was able to lift a looping shot that snuck in just over the keeper at the top of the goal. Moments later the junior put in another goal on a ball that came from Monica O'Donnell (Lincoln, Neb.) and May Lien Le (Katy, Texas) on a double assist.

Despite Howard Payne (0-2) holding 9-6 edge in shots during the first half, it was the Crusaders that led 2-0 at the break. The YellowJackets did get on the board nearly 15 minutes into the second half, as Mariah Gonzalez scored on the right side. Kelsey Bunch gave the assist.

UD's defense held the opposition scoreless the remainder of the match, and within the next 10 minutes from that scoring play had extended the lead back out to a comfortable gap. Duran came up with her first career hat trick at the 64:20 mark. Bekah Gonzalez (Reno, Nev.) took a corner on the right side of the field and Sydney Stirling (McLean, Va.) headed it inside the box to hot shooter who fired into the right lower corner of the net.

Mason Cosgrove (Las Cruces, N.M.) completed the scoring in the 70th minute. It was her second goal of the season. Duran was involved on that sequence with an assist to give her a career game-high seven points.

The last women's soccer player to nab a hat track was Chelsea Reeh on October 18, 2016, with a school record six at Southwestern Adventist University.

Several statistics were even as both sides registered 13 shots, six saves, and six fouls. HPU barely edged Dallas 3-2 in corner kicks.

Natalie Kutac (Bulverde, Texas) earned her first career win in goal with five saves in 45 minutes of action. Her counterpart Delaney Castor was saddled with the loss, as she made six saves against 10 shots faced in 90 minutes.


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Dallas continues its busy stretch with its third match in five days against another Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opponent. The Crusaders will be at Centenary College on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. kickoff after the men's match.