Belack Nets Hat Trick; Bilka Sets Career Assist Record in Win

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) netted her first hat trick of the season, while Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) tallied two assists and scored one goal to lead the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team past North Central 5-2 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (2-2) scored three goals in the first half and Belack scored both goals in the second half. Bilka recorded both assists in the first 12 minutes of the game, breaking the program's all-time assists record in the opening 1:31.

North Central cut the lead to 3-2 with two goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but Belack was able to put the game away with two unanswered goals in the second stanza.

Behrend took a 3-0 lead in the opening 13 minutes. Rachel Weyand (Butler, PA/Butler) dribbled up the left side, playing a ball through ball to Bilka that then went across the box to Jordan Oberlander (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) who then buried it for a 1-0 lead less than two minutes in.

Bilka had a hand in the second goal, splitting the four defenders to find Belack, who tucked it in to the far post with a first-time hit. Belack returned the favor to Bilka 28 seconds later. She picked off a clearance at the 40-yard line and found Bilka for the finish and a 3-0 advantage.

North Central added two quick goals to end the first half to make it 3-2 at the break.

Belack completed the hat trick minutes apart from each other. In the 67th minute, she tallied an unassisted goal. At the 68:29 mark, Oberlander took a shot that was saved by Gretchen Frantz that hit the crossbar and Belack tapped it in for a commanding 5-2 lead.

Mackenzie Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) made four saves, earning her second win of the season in between the pipes.

The Lions return to action on Wednesday against Mt. Union, beginning at 7:30 p.m.