Box Score Photo Taken By: Shelby Byerly
By: Ryan Lackey
NEWBERG, Ore. --- Ashlie Hernandez netted five goals and Jess Hanson rifled in four as the Bruins routed Northwest Conference rivals Linfield at home on Sunday, 16-1. Offensively, the Bruins were fluid and dynamic, and they found plenty of space around the Wildcats's circle, firing off 28 shots to Linfield's eight.
Recap:
The goals came early and often for the Bruins. Thirty seconds in, Jess Hanson found herself in possession inside the circle and neatly slotted away her first goal. Not a minute later, Alexa Nakashimada converted a free position shot, and another successful free position chance from Christine Doherty made the score 3-0 just 90 seconds in.
From there, Linfield coalesced on defense, but by the 20th minute Rachel Gibbs had picked up her first goal of the season, and Hanson bagged another. The middle period of the first half was quieter, but around the 11-minute mark the Bruins sparked again. Miranda Edwords took a measured pass from Lois Ray and scored, and Ray assisted again minutes later, finding Hernandez in the circle for the Bruins's seventh goal. Ray then got on the scoresheet herself soon after, when Nakashimada found her in the circle and slipped her a low pass, which Ray blasted in for a goal.
Three more goals as the first half closed meant the Bruins carried a comfortable 11-0 lead into the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Hanson got another goal, but soon afterwards Linfield broke their goose egg as Emily Mishko made a long dash against the run of play and finished past Alyssa Poffenroth, who came on for the Bruins's incumbent keeper, Mikaela Easterlin, at half.
With the score 12-1, Ashlie Hernandez decided to score a four-minute hat-trick, scoring thrice in markedly quick succession to bring the score to 16-1. Rachel Gibbs notched her second with nine left to play, but the air was gone in the second half, and the game coasted to a 16-1 final for the Bruins.
Top Performers:
On the strength of her quick hat-trick, Hernandez led the Bruins with five goals. Jess Hanson scored four. Lois Ray scored twice, but she was a master distributor on Sunday, dishing three assists. Gibbs also scored two and assisted once.
What It Means:
The Bruins are 3-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in NWC play.
What Comes Next:
Up next, the Bruins host Wooster on Tuesday.
