Bilka Nets Hat Trick; Lions Route Pitt-Bradford

ERIE, Pa. – Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) netted her first hat trick of the season to help the women's soccer team remain undefeated in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action with a 5-0 win over Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday night.

The Lions (12-4, 7-0 AMCC) have extended their winning streak to eight straight games and posted their seventh shutout, while snapping the Panthers (7-5-3, 4-1-2 AMCC) four game win streak and bump them from the unbeaten ranks in the conference.

Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) and Jordan Oberlander (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) each added a goal for Behrend. Sam Morlacci (Apollo, PA/Shady Side) tallied her third win of the season in the net.

The Lions put up five goals in 90 minutes, the most goals Pitt-Bradford has conceded in a game this season. Bilka registered her fourth game-winning goal in the 15th minute of the game off a cross from the right side by Belack for a 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Belack scored her team-leading 15th goal at the 16:11 mark on Behrend's first penalty kick this season to make it 2-0. Oberlander and Bilka tallied the final two goals of the first half for a four-goal cushion.

The Lions got one last goal in the 60th minute thanks to Bilka for her third goal of the game with a low shot into the right corner on a chip pass from Laura Schaefer (Erie, PA/General McLane).

The win marks the fifth time Behrend has won by five or more goals this season.

The Lions return to action on Saturday at La Roche. Game time is 1 p.m.