The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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No. 23 Soccer uses Carpenter hat trick to down LSU, 4-2
09.13.2006 | Soccer
BATON ROUGE, La. -- UT junior forward Kelsey Carpenter's hat trick lifted No. 23 Texas over LSU, 4-2, at LSU Soccer Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Wednesday (Sept. 13).
The stellar Texas (4-2) performance was witnessed by the second largest crowd in LSU history - 1,669 fans. LSU dropped it third straight decision, moving their record to 3-4 on the season.
With both teams knotted at one score apiece in the second half, Carpenter (Allen, Texas) found the back of the net at the 56:50 mark to put UT ahead, 2-1. The shot was taken unassisted from 15-yards out and hit the inside far post.
Three minutes later, the Tigers' Mallory Rutledge answered, firing the ball from 12-yards away at 59:14. She split the UT defense and aimed for the inside of the box to add a second score for LSU.
From then on, the game belonged to UT - specifically Carpenter. She tallied another goal at the 73:47 mark, with a line drive from the end line for her third game-winning goal of the season.
Carpenter used her momentum to put the game away with her third and final score of the game at the 78:14. The play developed from midfield where she chipped a ball over the keeper's head to ensure a Texas win.
"Our play tonight was amazing," said Carpenter. "We put the ball on the ground and we were passing the ball. Even when we were tied at halftime, we knew we were going to continue to play well."
"It was only a matter of time before we broke out of our shell and scored goals," said eighth-year head coach Chris Petrucelli. "We have seen too many chances and have too many talented players in our attack who can score. We knew we were going to break out and put points on the board."
Senior captain Carrie Schmit (La Mesa, Calif.) put the first points on the board for Texas, finding the back of the net on a backwards pass from Carpenter. Her second goal of the 2006 season came 32 minutes, 32 seconds into the game and evened the match at 1-1.
"Every time Carrie (Schmit) plays she leaves everything on the field," said Petrucelli. "Tonight was the third time she could barely walk off the field because she gave everything she had. Her effort is beyond what I've seen. She carries our team."
With the three-goal performance, Carpenter becomes the ninth player in UT history to achieve that feat. Kelly Wilson was the last player to score three times, nettinig three goals against Tulane on Sept. 17, 2004.
It is the first three-goal game and second multi-goal game of Carpenter's career. The third-year Longhorn improved her game highs from five points and two goals set on October 17, 2004 against Missouri.
Carpenter doubled her career total of game-winning goals to six with her fourth score of the season. She moved into eighth-place on the all-time list in career point total with 49 and seventh on the career goals list with 19. She is tied for tenth in career assists with 11 and tied for sixth in game-winning goals in a season with three.
"(Carpenter) took over the game in the second half," said Petrucelli. "The goal that she scored to tie really changed the game. She capitalized and just took the game over."
Texas took 18 shots overall with nine aimed at the goalkeeper. The four goals and nine points are the most scored in a match this season. UT entered the contest with the Tigers with a 2006 season-total of five goals.
"Greta (Carter) and Priscilla (Fite) did great with possession and midfield which gave us a chance to get forward."
Longhorns' goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger (Sugar Land, Texas) recorded five saves on 11 shots. LSU's goalkeeper Jackie Moseley had four saves in 90 minutes.
The first goal of the evening for LSU came on a header from Rosln Jones from six yards outside of the goalkeeper box at the 25:56 mark in the opening period.
The Longhorns have a quick turnaround, playing three matches this week. The first game is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.CT against LSU in Baton Rouge, La. UT then returns to home to Mike A. Myers Stadium for the weekend to face Nicholls State on Friday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.CT and California State Fullerton on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m. CT.
