Lehtinen's Hat-Trick Leads Owls Past Hatters

Sunday, September 10

Boca Raton, Fla.

2:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

2-2-2

Stetson

1-5-0

Stetson

Florida Atlantic

9/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 10, 2006

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL -- Neither lightning nor the Stetson defense could stop Susanna Lehtinen when the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team took on Stetson Sunday at FAU field.

Lehtinen tallied three goals for the hat-trick as the Owls defeated the hatters 4-0.

Her first goal came in just the fourth minute of play when she converted a cross from Alicia Tirelli who one-touched a pass from Michele Fazzari. The tally was Lehtinen's second of the year following her double-overtime penalty-kick winner versus Miami on Friday.

FAU would pressure the Stetson defense for much of the first half, but the team was unable to add to its advantage. The Owls held a 9-1 shot advantage after the first fourty-five minutes of play, but just a 2-0 advantage in shots on goal.

After halftime, Stetson carried the play for the first 10 minutes. Then, lightning struck...literally. The delay lasted the minimum 30 minute delay, and the teams resumed play in the 56th minute.

When the teams returned, Lehtinen took over. She added her second goal of the game at the 76-minute mark, once again on a cross from Tirelli who dribbled down the right sideline before finding a streaking Lehtinen.

Just 1:50 later, Lehtinen was taken down hard in the box for the second time in as many games, and FAU was awarded a penalty kick. She would convert the attempt for her third goal of the game, fourth in the last 78 minutes of play dating back to the game-winner versus Miami.

Tessa McGarrity would put the cherry on top as she dribbled past the Hatters' goalkeeper and tucked the ball in for her second goal of the year. FAU would have another great opportunity when Taylor Browning fired a shot from the left side of the box that appeared to be ticketed for the near corner, but it was blocked by the Hatters' defense at the last moment.

Making their Owl debut in this game were Isdianel Diaz and Aleisha Peterson. They came off the bench late to help seal the victory for FAU.

Megan Coyne got the start and picked up the victory in goal. Jessica Badders played the second half and made a pair of saves. The shutout is FAU's first of the season after picking up 16 in 2005.

With the pair of wins on the weekend, the Owls improved to 2-2-2 on the year.

With their four-game in-state tour of Florida-based opponents, the Owls will now turn their attention to Mount St. Mary's, who make the trip from Emmitsburg, MD to take on FAU in Boca Raton. Two nights later, FAU will welcome No. 1 ranked Florida State to FAU field.