BUFFALO, NY - Julia Schroeck (Fairview, PA/Fairview) scored a career-high four goals, including three in the first half to lead the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team past Hilbert 6-1 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Tuesday.
The Lions (10-8, 8-1 AMCC) have won eight of their last nine games to secure the No. 1 seed for the upcoming AMCC Tournament. Behrend will host the winner of the fourth-seed and fifth-seed in the semifinals on Wednesday, October 31.
Schroeck netted back-to-back unassisted goals in the first 17 minutes. She had an open look on her first goal and then chipped the ball over Ariana Scheidt for a quick 2-0 lead.
The Hawks (2-12-1, 0-8-1 AMCC) got within one goal at the 42:10 mark thanks to Mary Mabon. Allyson Kelchlin drew Taylor Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) off her frame and played the ball into Mabon to make it, 2-1.
Schroeck completed a hat trick by the time the first end was over. She blasted a one-touch shot into the net off a cross from Lauren Truxal (Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe) just 15 seconds before halftime.
Four minutes into the second half, defender Rachel Mueller (Shaler, PA/Shaler) put the Lions ahead 4-1 with a hight shot over substituted goalie Erin Smith. Schroeck, making up for not finding the back of the net off six shots against Altoona, scored her final and fourth goal in the 65th minute.
The sixth goal belonged to Kaitlyn Gardner (Carlisle, PA/Cumberland Valley) at the 79:33 mark, taking advantage after the ball took a funny bounce.
Troyan and Christina Winarski (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy) combined for three saves on six shots.
The win marked the second largest margin of victory for Behrend, who defeated Franciscan 7-1 on Sept. 22.