PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland sophomore Taryn Ries recorded her second hat trick of the season and senior Hanna Armendariz added a goal as the Pilots cruised past the Pacific Tigers, winning 4-1 in a West Coast Conference women's soccer game played on Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. Ries also collects her sixth game-winner this year.
 
Ries' first goal came in the 11th minute after she received a pass from Kimberly Hazlett and made her way up field into the 18-yard box. She then deposited a shot between the legs of the Pacific keeper and into the back of the net to give the home-side the early edge.
 
Ries pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute after the Pilots were awarded a penalty. The Pilots were awarded the free attempt after a nice through ball from Natalie Muth inside the area found the feet of Rachel Khaw, who was tackled from behind. Ries slotted it in, and the Pilots were in command.
 
The Tigers did pull one back in the 37th minute when Katelyn Chandler chested the ball in on a nice cross from Bianca Lopez. The goal allowed the Tigers to enter the locker room at the break with only a 2-1 deficit.
 
The Pilots' lead grew in the second half when Ries notched her third goal, this one on brilliant ball sent in by Armendariz. Larkin Russell dispatched a pass to Armendariz near the top of the 18, and Armendariz hit a perfect cross towards the far post. That's where Ries finished with a header for her 13th goal of the season.
 
Armendariz then capped the scoring in the 66th minute when she was able to finish on a corner from Russell.
 
Russell, who entered the game third in the WCC in assists, provided two assists against the Tigers to give the junior midfielder eight on the year. Armendariz now has a pair of goals this fall, and her assist was her first. Hazlett claims assist number four.
 
Ries becomes the first Pilot to record two hat tricks in a season since 2009 when Danielle Foxhoven accomplished the feat three times. Ries' first three-goal performance came at San Diego on Sept. 27, and her 13 goals this fall are the most for Portland since Foxhoven scored an impressive 25 during that same 2009 season.
 
Ries entered the day leading the WCC in goals, and she began the weekend 10th in the country. She was also sixth nationally in game-winners.
 
Portland wins its 10th game of the year to improve to 10-5-0 overall, and at 3-1-0 in the WCC they are currently tied on top of the league standings with nine points. Pacific drops to 2-11-0 and 0-4-0 in the conference.
 
The Pilots have next weekend off from games, and they return to the pitch on Friday, Oct. 19 when they travel to Santa Clara to face the fourth-ranked Broncos.