Senior forward Morgan Bittengle recorded her second career hat trick as the Ashland University women's soccer team dispatched host Northern Michigan, 4-1, on Sunday (Oct. 15) afternoon in Marquette, Mich.
Bittengle's hat trick is the first for the Eagles since she also scored three goals in a 5-2 win in the GLIAC Tournament semifinal on Nov. 4, 2014 against Saginaw Valley State.
The Eagles (9-4-1, 6-1 GLIAC) have now won seven of their last eight games heading into a three-game homestand that will close the regular season. AU finished the regular season with a 7-2 road record.
Ashland dominated play on Sunday, leading the Wildcats (2-9-2, 1-4-2 GLIAC) in shots, 18-5, while holding a 4-0 lead in corner kicks.
Bittengle bagged her first goal in the 29th minute to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead that they would keep into halftime.
Bittengle doubled the Eagles' lead in the 56th minute, taking a long pass from freshman keeper Abby Lampe and lining up her second goal of the game. Lampe was credited with her first assist of the season.
Ten minutes later, senior Kelsey McKernan got on the board for Ashland with the assist coming from sophomore Emily Ledbetter. It was McKernan's first goal of the season and Ledbetter's fourth assist.
Bittengle completed her trifecta in the 70th minute with the assist coming from McKernan. Bittengle is now tied for second in the GLIAC with 10 goals, eight of which have come in the last seven games. McKernan is tied for the league lead with seven assists.
Julia Jonassen scored a late goal for the Wildcats to provide the final margin.
Lampe and senior keeper Courtney Barker each played in the game at keeper. The AU back line permitted just one shot on goal in the contest.
The Eagles will now play host to Saginaw Valley State on Friday (Oct. 20) at 7 p.m. at Ferguson Field.
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