JONESBORO, Ark. (10/7/11) – Sophomore forward Tory Pitts recorded a hat trick, the first since the 2008 season, scoring three goals to lead the Arkansas State soccer team to its second shutout victory straight, 5-0 over Louisiana-Monroe Sunday.
The win moves ASU to 5-7-2 with a 3-3 Sun Belt Conference record. ULM is 5-9-1 with a winless 0-6 record in league play.
“This is one of our best performances of the season against a very well coached team,” said ASU head coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge. “Have to give credit to ULM for putting up a fight. I give more credit to my players for recognizing the importance of this game and finding the target as much as we did.”
Pitts scored the first goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute (21:34). ASU then took a 2-0 lead when ULM deflected a shot on goal into its own net resulting in an own goal in the 42nd minute (41:32).
Pitts then took a cross from Jessica Jingblad and one-timed the shot to give the Red Wolves a 3-0 lead in the 50th minute (50:45). Pitts then took a cross from Mallory McGilvray, inside the box and converted the scoring chance to the left side at the 57:48 mark of the contest.
Kara Nitti put the exclamation point on the match when she took a pass from Blayne Laing and beat the goalkeeper inside the box and scored an empty net goal for the Red Wolves in the 85th minute (84:53).
Pitts had six shots to lead ASU in the contest followed by Nitti who had five and Jena' Kelly, Ashley McMurtry and Lindsey Patterson who each had three shots.
The Red Wolves held a lopsided 23-11 advantage in shots and a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal.
Kylie Mcintyr e had four shots for ULM including three on goal.
Megan Stoltzfus and Bethany Kremer combined for the shutout in goal. Stoltzfus made four saves in just over 56 minutes of action, while Kremer made two saves in 33-plus minutes in the net.
ASU begins a three-match road trip traveling to South Alabama for a 7 p.m. match on Friday.
