First-Ever Hattrick a Silver Lining in Voyageurs Loss

LAC LA BICHE – It was a game for the record books, even if the home team didn't come out on top. The Portage College Voyageurs Women's Soccer Team, playing in their third ACAC season, had never before had a player pot three goals in the same game – until Saturday afternoon at the Bold Center Soccer Field that is. Ashley Tweedy, who's making a habit of recording Voyageurs firsts (having scored the first-ever Voyageur goal in ACAC action), netted three straight goals in less than 30 minutes in the first half to record the team's first-ever hattrick. Not surprisingly, she was named Player of the Game for her side. Her scoring prowess wasn't enough to overcome the visiting Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves, however, as the hosts lost 8-4 in a highly competitive match.

After the game, Head Coach Kika Mukuninwa was pleased for his striker and for his team, despite the loss.

"For them especially to see that they can score and for Tweedy to get a hattrick, it's awesome," he said. "It brings confidence and that can only help going forward."

The Voyageurs were brimming with confidence early on, as Tweedy found the back of the net in the seventh minute. Portage couldn't keep the Wolves at bay for long, however, as the visitors rattled off four consecutive markers by the 33^rd minute of play. Tweedy's heroics made it close before halftime but Gabby Cavezza scored right before the whistle sounded to end the first half at 5-3.

The second half also featured a natural hattrick, this time by Wolves' Player of the Game Medea Chiba, who finished the game with four markers. Hailee George replied for the Voyageurs. Mukuninwa was pleased with his team's effort and never-say-die attitude, calling the match their best game of the season so far. He hopes it's something they can build upon when they take on the Wolves again on Sunday.

"I think for tomorrow's game when we play them again it'll be to start and finish the game well," said Mukuninwa. "We started well, we scored the first goal but then we had a lull where they scored four in a row on us. Now the challenge is to start and finish the game well."