It was a goal-scoring bananza this past week; and we’ll get to that. But first, let’s revisit a program that got more than a monkey off its back – more like a big-screen CGI King Kong. 

Slaying the Tar Heels: The word ‘historic’ is often used loosely in sports. Not in this case. Heading into Sunday’s match against No. 6 North Carolina, Virginia had played the program from Chapel Hill on 37 occasions and each time came away without a victory. All that changed with a demon-exorcising 1-0 triumph that gave the Cavaliers their first win over the Tar Heels in their program’s history. Caroline Miller converted the winning goal in the 105th minute and No. 9 Virginia broke through a major barrier in their team’s history. 

Alexis Owens (left)

Camouflage Tigers: We’ve given a lot of love to Oklahoma State for their early run this season, and rightfully so as they’re one of two remaining undefeated and untied teams left in women’s soccer. The other? The Memphis Tigers, who seem to be playing a little under the radar despite their 10-0-0 record. The No. 23 Tigers are in the midst of a program-record win streak and don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. No disrespect to the rest of Conference USA, but Memphis has a pretty friendly schedule until running into No. 31 UCF on Oct. 23. 

Coming out party: Alexis Owens – the same Owens who hadn’t started a game all season and had recorded just two career goals for Tennessee -  went “hello world” on the Florida Gators Sunday with an unlikely hat-trick that lifted the Lady Vols to a big 4-2 victory over Florida. The No. 10 Gators never saw it coming, much like Tennessee’s season in general thus far. The Lady Vols are off to their best start in program history, and Owens’ breakout performance was the first hat-trick for Tennessee since 2002. We’re guessing Owens may get another start this season - sometime soon.  

Marlborough woman: Yup, she’s smoking alright. Nebraska’s Morgan Marlborough, that is. She’s been a record-breaking scorer since she arrived at Nebraska, and her scoring exploits continued with her third hat-trick of the season on Friday in a 3-0 win over Purdue. The performance was actually her second straight hat-trick, making her the first player in program history to accomplish that, while her trio of three-goal games in a season ties a Nebraska mark held by Kim Engesser in 1998. With 15 goals in just 10 games this season, Marlborough just might challenge the Nebraska single-season scoring mark also held by Engesser who scored 27 times in 1998. 

Beat down of the week: Stephen F. Austin 11, Jackson State 0. The Lumberjacks set a school record with their goal total while eight different players scored. The win marked the 100th career victory for coach Tony Amato, and unfortunately dropped the struggling Lady Tigers to 0-6-0 on the season after the program had begun the year in our Top 64 Rankings.