AIKEN, S.C. – Fueled by a first-half hat trick from Jessica Cravero, the Lincoln Memorial University women's soccer team rolled past the USC Aiken Pacers in a 3-0 triumph on Sunday afternoon in Aiken, S.C. With the victory, the Lady Railsplitters are off to a 3-1 start for the second consecutive season, while USC Aiken fell to 1-3. 
 
After failing to record either a goal or an assist in her first three appearances of the season, freshman striker Jessica Cravero did it all for the Lady Railsplitters in Sunday's nonconference matchup. The Italian slammed home goals in the 26th, 35th and 41st minutes to record the first hat trick by a Lincoln Memorial player since 2015. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters were dominating possession early but weren't able to break through until Isa Jara helped set up the match's first goal by stealing the ball away in USC Aiken territory. The ball eventually ended up with Itzel Ballesteros, who made a short cross to Cravero in front of the net to put the Lady Railsplitters ahead in the 26th minute. 
 
Just nine minutes later, the Lady Railsplitters doubled their lead on Cravero's second goal, as Courtney Boyd made a long run up the left side and crossed it into the box, where the freshman forward tapped it past USC Aiken keeper Makenzie Cude.  
 
Cravero saved her best for last, heading home a cross from Jessica Stein to make it 3-0 in favor of the road team. That 3-0 lead was more than enough for the Lady Railsplitters, who didn't need a second-half goal to cruise to victory. 
 
Lincoln Memorial outshot USC Aiken 11-6 in the half and finished with a 16-13 edge for the match.  
 
Cravero finished with a match-high six shots and four shots on goal, while Maria Hernandez contributed three shots and a shot on goal. Boyd and Ballesteros added two shots apiece. 
 
Ann-Marie O'Connell made five saves to post her second clean sheet of the season and first since a 1-0 win over Salem on September 1. 
 
USC Aiken, which outshot LMU 7-5 in the second half, was led by two shots apiece from Amanda Giordano, Nicole Hayes, Willa Olson, and Amanda Raleigh. 
 
The Lady Railsplitters defeated the Pacers for the second consecutive season after capturing a 2-1 win at the LMU Soccer Complex to move to 3-0 in 2017. 
 
Lincoln Memorial returns to action on Wednesday, September 12 to host Mount Olive in the final nonconference tune-up prior to South Atlantic Conference action starting on Saturday.