Oct. 5, 2008
Final Stats
KENNESAW, Ga. - Rachel Baer picked up a hat trick while Caroline Austin and Katie Scott scored their first goals of the season in a 5-1 Atlantic Sun Conference victory over North Florida on Sunday afternoon at the KSU Soccer Field.
Scott started off the Owls (7-3-3, 2-1-1) offensive domination in the fifth minute of play off a cross from Sarah Marek, shooting it past the North Florida (5-7-1, 2-2-0) goalkeeper, Erica Lippitt and putting KSU up 1-0.
"It's pretty exciting to get my first collegiate goal," said Scott. "My adrenaline was pumping and I got a good pass from Sarah, all I had to do was put it in."
Baer was next to score for KSU with a header into the bottom left side of the net off a corner kick from Caroline Austin. Austin, who tallied her ninth assist of the season, is ranked 20th in the nation in assists per game.
Baer put the Black and Gold up 3-0 when she showed off her impressive ball handling skills in her second goal of the game off a pass from Marek.
The Ospreys didn't get off a single shot until 11 minutes remained in the half . KSU out-shot UNF 10-2 in the first half with five shots on goal.
Baer picked up her hat trick quickly in the second half off a cross from Kristin Kranick who received a pass from Beth Meadors in the 48th minute. Baer's hat trick is the first hat trick of the season and the first time an Owl scored three goals since October 27, 2007.
"Rachel is finally healthy," said head coach Rob King. "She is taking on a different role than she had earlier in the year and she is doing a great job at getting us goals."
Staci Pugh picked up her first save of the game when she caught a shot from 20 yards out from UNF's Elizabeth Gowan.
Kranick got taken down in the box which allowed for Austin to attempt her first penalty kick of the year, which was good and put KSU up 5-0. The goal was Austin's first of the season.
The Ospreys had plenty of chances to score, out-shooting the Owls in the second half 14-12. Katelin Swift, last week's A-Sun Player-of-the-Week, stopped the chance of a shutout when she snuck a shot by the KSU defense in the 66th minute, putting UNF down 5-1.
"This win is a great confidence booster," said King. "We have a little bit added pressure on us since we were picked to win the conference. We had a couple of good wins at home and we are going to try to use them as a stepping stone."
The Owls tallied 22 shots in the game while the Ospreys ended with 16. Baer tallied her team-leading ninth goal of the year while Marek had two assists.
Kennesaw State continues A-Sun action next weekend when they head to Nashville, Tenn. to take on Belmont on Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. and then play Lipscomb on Sunday, October 12 at 1:00 p.m.
