Using hat tricks in Hawaii, the Dixie State University women’s soccer team dominated Hawaii Pacific University 4-1 for its fourth straight victory.
The Trailblazers came out hot against HPU in the first half of the match. Junior forward Darian McCloy had two goals and an assist before the half was over and DSU outshot HPU 18-2 and held a 3-0 lead.
“Our goal today was to cut down our turnovers and clean up our possessions,” said head coach Kacey Bingham. “We pushed our numbers forward and stayed on the attack.”
The defense continued its stout defensive efforts as HPU could never get within striking distance.
“We haven’t been satisfied with our offense,” said McCloy, a nursing major from Herriman. “We came out ready to put the ball in the net and be on the attack.”
McCloy scored in the 28th minute and again in the 31st minute. She then assisted senior midfielder Megan Spencer in the 34th minute.
“[Darian] was on tonight. She kept putting herself in dangerous positions and made them count,” said Bingham.
Following the barrage of offensive fireworks that DSU displayed in the first half, the second half was less aggressive. DSU still out shot HPU 6-4, one of those shots being the third goal for McCloy after she took the ball from a Sharks defender and fired it into the net.
The Sharks’ lone goal came in the 83rd minute by way of a penalty kick. The Trailblazers’ defense has not allowed any goals other than penalty kicks in the last three games.
“We played our game today,” said Spencer, an exercise science major from Springville. “Our defense stayed in front of the ball and just played awesome.”
The Trailblazers are now 6-5 overall and 3-2 in Pacific West Conference play. DSU plays at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Thursday at 3 p.m. (HT)