HARROGATE, Tenn. – Jessica Cravero had a hand in all five Lady Railsplitter goals and notched her third hat trick of the season to lead the Lincoln Memorial women's soccer team in a 5-0 evisceration of the Coker Cobras on Senior Day at the LMU Soccer Complex.
After letting numerous scoring chances slip away and enduring a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss earlier in the week against Tusculum, the Lady Railsplitters (9-4, 5-3 SAC) took out their frustration on the winless Cobras (0-10, 0-7 SAC), matching their season-high scoring mark while racking up 10 shots on goal.
Lincoln Memorial put Coker away early as
Maria Hernandez scored her second goal of the season in the eighth minute and Itzel Ballesteroes posted her eighth score in the 11th minute. Both of those goals came off assists from Cravero.
It was then the freshman striker's turn to take over, as the Italian scored in the 19th, 38th and 56th minutes to push her season total to 13, which is tied for second in the South Atlantic Conference. On the back of her third hat trick of the season, Cravero has now accounted for the most goals by a Lady Railsplitter since Heloisa De Oliveira amassed a program record 28 goals in 2007.
Rachel Taylor assisted on Cravero's 19th-minute goal to notch her third helper of the season, while
Daisy Drake set up the team's fourth goal with her second assist of the year to send the Lady Railsplitters into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead.
Cravero did it herself on the hat-trick clinching goal in the 56th minute, making a long run up the right sideline before beating Coker keeper Samantha Hoffman on a one-on-one.
The Lady Railsplitters outshot the Cobras 18-7, including a 10-2 edge in shots on goal. Lincoln Memorial also mustered a 7-4 advantage in corner kick attempts.
Ann-Marie O'Connell and
Brooke Taylor split time at keeper for the Lady Railsplitters with each playing a half. Both made a save to combine for the shutout.
Prior to Saturday's match, Lincoln Memorial celebrated Senior Day by honoring its nine-member 2018 senior class:
Alyssa Berry,
Courtney Boyd,
Gabby Garcia,
Kaitlyn Waddle,
Samantha Brumm,
Isa Jara, Taylor,
Caroline Souza and
Kelsey Stafford. Seven of the nine seniors made an appearance in the match.
Quick Hits
- Cravero now trails only Lenoir-Rhyne's Abby Brown's 14 scores for the SAC lead in goals. Her eight points were also the most by an LMU player in a match since 2015. Cravero has reached the 13-goal mark in only 10 matches as she went scoreless through the first three games of the season.
- Farrah Brown led Coker with three shots, while Cravero (6) and Ballesteros (3) led the Lady Railsplitters in that department.
- LMU caught a break as Tusculum fell to Mars Hill on Saturday, moving the Lady Railsplitters into a tie for fourth place in the SAC standings.
Up Next
The Lady Railsplitters will strive for their first 10-win season since 2013 on Wednesday when they travel to Charlotte, N.C. to face Queens in SAC action at 3:30 p.m.
