Box Score
SEATTLE, Wash. --- Junior striker Sophie Schmidt became the 13th player in school history to score four goals in a game as the No. 3 ranked University of Portland routed Columbia University by a 5-1 margin at the Husky/Nike Invitational Sunday afternoon at Husky Soccer Field. She was named the tournament's Offensive MVP, while Portland was the tournament team champion.
Schmidt entered the contest with two goals scored on the season and now has 27 career goals despite moving to the forward position for the first time in her competitive soccer playing career midway through her freshman season.
“It was a great result today,” Portland head coach Garrett Smith said. “Sophie Schmidt stepped up big time with the type of individual performance we have been waiting for.”
Sophomore forward Danielle Foxhoven scored Portland’s other goal, giving her five strikes on the season.
Schmidt began the scoring in the 18th minute with one of her three unassisted goals. Foxhoven doubled the margin in the 23rd minute tapping in a rebound after Michelle Enyeart’s shot bounced off the post.
Portland (5-0) took a 3-0 lead into halftime as Schmidt deposited a loose ball into the low left in the 28th minute.
Columbia picked up the pressure in the second half and scored the first goal of the season against the Pilots when Christina Eckhardt drilled a 30-yard attempt into the upper right in the 83rd minute. The Pilots bounced back 34 seconds later when Schmidt took a pass from freshman Kendall Johnson and notched her hat trick. She concluded the scoring in the 87th minute by volleying a loose ball in the right side netting.
“Columbia is a feisty team that never gave up,” Smith added. “It was an evenly played second half and they deserved at least the one goal, but we held tough and figured out a way to get two more at the end.”
Portland has now outscored opponents 16-1 through five games in 2009. Sophomore goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung made three saves for the Pilots, while Lindsay Danielson recorded five saves for the Lions (0-2).
Portland had an 18-13 edge in shots for the match, while each team had two corner kicks.
“Overall it was a good game and good result,” Smith said,”and now we are eager to get home and host our invitational.”
The Pilots will return to Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex next weekend to host the Nike Portland Invitational. Portland will face a nationally-ranked Illinois squad on Friday at 7 p.m. and Miami (FL) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Washington is the fourth team in the tournament field.
