Box Score   I  Box Score (pdf)

PROVO, Utah --- Brigham Young scored two goals early and Ashley Hatch registered a hat trick as the No. 23 Cougars defeated  the Portland Pilots 3-0 in a West Coast Conference women's soccer game played on Thursday night at South Field. It's the first conference loss this season for Portland (5-6-2, 2-1-0 WCC), while BYU (8-3-2, 2-0-0 WCC) wins its eighth straight game.
 
The Cougars jumped out to the early lead after taking advantage of a pair of Portland miscues in its own half of the field. First in the fifth minute, Nikki Fernandes got to a loose ball before sending a nice one-touch pass to Hatch. The sophomore forward then took a touch before driving a shot inside the right post from about 15 yards out, handing the Cougars an early 1-0 lead.
 
Hatch's second goal came on another Portland give-away deep in Pilot territory nine minutes later. This time Hatch gained possession before sending a perfectly placed shot just under the crossbar from about 20 yards out.
 
Portland did well to limit BYU's offensive chances from there, but the Pilots were ultimately unable to connect on that final ball at the other end of the field and entered the halftime locker room trailing 2-0.
 
The Pilots put some pressure on the final third early in the second half, and junior Noelle La Prevotte forced BYU goalkeeper Katherine Snyder into making a save with a well-hit shot in the 51st minute. Later in the half, freshman Madeline Dieker tried to re-direct a nice cross from sophomore Ellie Boon, but the header was wide of the far post.
 
The Pilots continued to create chances, while stifling the Cougars offensively for a good chunk of the second half, but Hatch capped the hat trick with her third goal of the game in the 83rd minute. She again finished from distance, this time hitting one inside the left post to make it 3-0.
 
Portland freshman goalkeeper Taylor Luty was active, finishing with a career-high eight saves. She made a stellar diving stop on a hard-hit shot by Marrisa Nimmer in the 71st minute.
 
Snyder claims her third shutout of the year.
 
The Pilots next head south to San Diego, Calif., for a WCC match against the San Diego Toreros on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. at Torero Stadium.