Williamsburg, KY – The top-ranked Cumberlands women's soccer team notched a pair of milestone as they opened Mid-South Conference play with a 6-1 victory over (RV) Bethel Thursday night at the UC Soccer Complex. The win moved the Patriots to 9-0 on the season, which is the longest win streak to open a season since 1999, while
Jayden Boelter became the first UC player to surpass 200 career points.
Boelter was nearly unstoppable netting three goals in just over 13 minutes of play for her program-best third hat trick of the season. The Hebron, KY native now has 204 career points and 89 goals to go along with six multi-goal games this season.
Carola Fontan added a goal and two assists in the win, while
Noah Paalman and
Abigail Little each added a goal.
Olaya Blanco and
Nicole Araujo earned an assist in the victory.
Georgia Martell made six saves en route to her eighth win over season.
Bethel took the first shot of the contest as Briley Ross put a shot on frame that was saved by Martell. UC responds as
Sarah Hammerstone begins the attack sending the ball over to Fontan. Fontan plays the ball upfield to Araujo, who slides it over to Boelter for the goal, giving UC the early 1-0 lead. The goal was Boelter's 200
th career point and was Araujo's team-high eighth assists on the season. Cumberlands continued to apply the pressure earning a corner kick in the tenth minute.
Olaya Blanco sent a cross into the box for Boelter to finish making in 2-0. Three minutes later, the Patriots struck again as Fontan sent a lob pass towards the back post where Boelter headed it in to complete her third hat trick of the season. Bethel cut the lead to 3-1 in the 22' before the Patriots responded with an unassisted goal from Paalman, who sent a rocket just inside the far post for her first goal of the season to make it 4-1. Araujo looked to add a late goal, however, a save by Perez kept the score 4-1 at the break.
Cumberlands opened the second half with three shots in the first eight minutes of play, but couldn't convert. Martell added a trio saves for the Patriots to keep the score 4-1 with 32 minutes remaining. The two teams traded possession over the next 20 minutes before
Rita Aguye plays the ball forward as Little hustled to split two defenders before knocking in her fifth goal of the season extending the lead to 5-1. A few minutes later, Fontan sent a laser shot just under the crossbar making it 6-1 in the 87'. Martell added a final save to preserve the 6-1 victory.
The Patriots returns to the pitch on Monday, October 7
th, when they host #18 Georgia Gwinnett. The match is slated for 7 p.m. start time with live video available
here.
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