Williamsburg, KY – Jayden Boelter netted her first career hattrick as the top-seed University of the Cumberlands scored four first half goals en route to a 5-0 win over fourth-seed Mount Vernon Nazarene in the opening game of the Williamsburg Bracket Thursday afternoon at the UC Soccer Complex.  With the win, the Patriots advance to the championship game of the Williamsburg Bracket Saturday night at 6 p.m. and improve to 17-1 on the year.

Boelter led the Patriots with three goals and seven points, while Laura Navajas Marin tallied two goals and a pair of assists in the win.  It was the first multi-goal game of Navajas Marin's career and her six points is also a new career high.  Selena Barnett and Alanna Skinner each added a pair of assists in the win. 

For UC the win also marks the Patriots first shutout during the NAIA postseason play as well as their largest margin of victory in an NAIA postseason game. 

Patriots had the first opportunity in the 5' as Selena Barnett sent a cross into the box and found Jayden Boelter, however, her shot deflected off the post keeping the game scoreless.  It was a back-and-forth battle over the next 15 minutes with neither team able to convert.  Cumberlands broke the scoreless tie in the 24' as Alanna Skinner connected with Lauren Marin Navajas, who fired a shot from 35-yards out just under the crossbar for a goal, giving the Patriots a 1-0. Three minutes later, Cumberlands extended their lead as Navajas Marin sent a through ball to Ainhoa Camara, who found Boelter for a goal.  The freshman sent a shot to the upper right-hand corner of the net making it 2-0.

Cumberlands continued to pressure the Cougars as the ball stayed in UC's offensive third of the field.  In the 29' Barnett send a cross into the box, it deflected off Boelter before Navajas Marin put into the back of the net making it 3-0 in favor of the Patriots.  Two minutes later, the Patriots cut off a Cougars clear opportunity as Alanna Skinner sent a cross into the box, finding Boelter for a header into the net extending Cumberlands lead to 4-0 with 14:28 remaining in the first half.  The two teams continued to trade possession over the next several minutes as Mount Vernon Nazarene goalkeeper, made a pair of saves, while a Skinner shot deflected off the crossbar keeping the score 4-0 at the break.

In the second half, Cumberlands continued their offensive pressure taking two shots and a corner kick over the first ten minutes of action.  In the 55' Navajas Marin led a Patriots transition, passing the ball up to Barnett, who crossed it to Boelter for the goal to make it 5-0.  It was Barnett's second assist of the game, while Boelter has netted her first career hattrick.  Jakuszewski made three straight saves for Mount Vernon to keep the score at 5-0.  Those saves gave the Cougars some momentum as Kaitlin Meade sent a freekick into the box which was header by Melanie Critzer, however, it went high.  Mount Vernon Nazarene made another run two minutes later but an offside call negated the run. The COugars' goalkeeper had to make three more saves in the closing minutes for the 5-0 final.

The Patriots backline of Jenna Rockwell, Makayla Ousley, Hannah Tharp, Jillian Zurborg, and Barnett along with the keeper Laura Vogt limited the Cougars to three shots in the game, with none of them being on frame. 

Cumberlands will return to the field Saturday, April 17, for the championship game of the Williamsburg bracket.  The Patriots will face the winner of Missouri Valley vs. Trinity Christian that takes place later today.

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