MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Looking to start strong in Northwest Conference play, the Linfield Wildcats rolled past the Pacific Boxers 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Sydney Kuehn scored the 12
th hat trick in program history to lead the Wildcats.
The Wildcats improve to 2-3 on the season and 1-0 in the conference. The Boxers fall to 2-2 on the season and 0-1 in NWC play.
Neither team was able to get the ball in the back of the net in the first half, but it took just 52 seconds in the second half for
Amidee Colleknon to open the scoring with her first of the season.
The goal by Colleknon was the 12
th of her career, which is tied for 15
th all time with Kelly Ping.
Kuehn took over the game from that point with a penalty kick goal in the 48
th minute, unassisted shot in the 55
th and secured the hattrick with a goal in the 84
th minute on an assist by
Makenna Blix.
Blix had two assists in the game, that rises her to the top of the Wildcat leaderboard with three helpers in 2019.
The Boxers spoiled the Wildcats' shutout in the 87
th minute with a penalty kick goal by Brooke Nakamura, her first of the season.
Kuehn had the 12
th hat trick in program history and the first since Ellie Schmidt against George Fox on Nov. 1, 2014.
The three goals increase the Duvall, Washington, native's career total to 13, which is 14
th all time.
After missing the last two games with a back injury, goalkeeper
Madi Reimer returned to action on Wednesday night and had six saves, her season high.
The Wildcats outshot the Boxers 20-10 in the game and had six corners to the Boxers' two.
The game on Wednesday was the first NWC contest of 2019, so the Wildcats are at the top of the standings with three crucial points.
Senior
Baylie Cameron made her first start of the season and fellow senior
Mary Cait Moriarty appeared in her first game since the season opener against Chapman.
The Wildcats are now 25-26-4 against the Boxers and are unbeaten in the last six battles between the conference foes.
UP NEXT
Linfield heads to the Beaver State capital to face Willamette on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.
