Utah Valley women beat North Dakota

OREM, Utah -- Jaime Lyons became the first Utah Valley player to score three goals in a game since 2003 as the Wolverines rolled to a dominating 4-0 win over North Dakota in Great West Conference action on Friday.

The hat trick is the fourth in the school's NCAA soccer history and first since Oct. 11, 2003 when Nichole Averett scored three times against Northwest Nazarene. Taylor Cracroft achieved the feat two times during the 2003 season.

"It was great to have her break out like that," said head coach Brent Anderson of Lyons. "North Dakota plays a very high defensive line and we didn't adjust to that the last time we played them. That's something we worked on because we knew if we created the opportunities and stayed onside the shots would fall for us."

The Wolverines (4-10-1) improved to 3-0-1 in GWC action while the Fighting Sioux (1-11-2) dropped to 0-4-1. UVU held a decided edge on the stat sheet, out-shooting North Dakota 23-4 overall including 13-1 on goal.

The game was scoreless until the 31st minute when Lyons scored her first goal on assists from Adrienne Schneider and Kendra Buchanan.

A little less than five minutes later, Lyons got a pass from Kelly Vide and sprinted nearly the length of the field, scoring from the left side on her own to put the Wolverines up 2-0 at the break.

Defender Danielle Anderson also got in on the offense, scoring the first goal of her career early in the second half to make it 3-0. Lyons then capped the scoring in the 74th minute with her third goal and team-leading fifth of the season.

The win sets up Monday's first-place showdown with Houston Baptist at 4 p.m. on Clyde Field. UVU and HBU are the only undefeated teams left in the GWC West division and a Wolverine win would clinch the top seed in the west heading into the conference tournament in November. The two teams tied 1-1 earlier in the month in Houston.

"The game down there was a lot of fun," Anderson said. "Houston Baptist is a great team. They're very athletic with a lot of speed so we know Monday's going to be a real test for us. The girls know what's at stake and they need to bring it be successful."

Friday's contest was also the opener of the Pink With A Purpose weekend for Utah Valley soccer and volleyball. The teams and the UVU athletic department, along with the Second Chance Foundation of Utah, are raising money for nine-year-old Hannah Laursen, who is fighting brain cancer. Hannah and her family were recognized at half time and also received a signed soccer ball and t-shirts from the North Dakota soccer team. The team raised flat donations as well as pledges per shot on goal.