PORTLAND, Ore. – Junior forward Hannah Griffiths Boston recorded her first career hat trick as the University of Portland women's soccer team cruised to a 6-0 win over city rival Portland State Friday night before 3,085 fans at Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex.
The Pilots (2-0-0) outshot the Vikings (0-2-0) by an 18-2 margin overall and 11-1 difference in shots on goal.
The scores came early and often for the host Pilots as Griffiths Boston opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Fellow junior Jess Kennedy intercepted a pass in the final third and slotted a pass to an unmarked Griffiths Boston at the right post. She calmly beat the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
The Pilots made it 2-0 less than two minutes later after being awarded a free kick at the corner of the penalty box. Senior midfielder Allison Wetherington stepped up and bent a low shot around the wall and inside the left post for her first goal of the season.
Portland was awarded another free kick from nearly the same spot in the 14th minute. This time Wetherington sent a cross to the far post and freshman defender Natalie Muth rose high above the defense and placed a perfect header into the upper right just under the cross bar for her first collegiate goal.
Wetherington netted her second goal and gave the Pilots a 4-0 lead after the Pilots earned a penalty kick in the 31st minute. Griffiths Boston was led into the penalty area on a great through ball by freshman Kimberly Hazlett. She was tackled from behind to earn the whistle and then Wetherington placed the PK into the upper right without issue.
The second half was more of the same as the Pilots controlled the run of play from start-to-finish. Another penalty kick was awarded to Portland when freshman Brianna Miyama was tackled in the box in the 54th minute. Griffiths Boston toed the spot and finished to the lower left.
Griffiths Boston got her hat trick three minutes later when she corralled a rebound off of a Kennedy shot and found the back of the net.
Portland will have a quick turnaround and travel to Berkeley, Calif. to take on No. 21 California (2-1-0) on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
