Velaj Hat Trick Leads Women's Soccer To 3-1 Victory Over Dartmouth

QU vs. Dartmouth Photos

HAMDEN, Conn. - Junior Furtuna Velaj (Stamford, Conn.) compiled her fourth career hat trick, as the Quinnipiac women's soccer team won its first game of the season against Dartmouth, 3-1, in a home contest at the Quinnipiac Soccer Field. With the win the Bobcats improve to 1-4, while Dartmouth falls to 1-3-1 overall.

"It was a hard fought, but well deserved win" said Head Coach Dave Clarke. "In previous games we haven't had a lot of luck. It's eluded us most of the time, but today luck was on our side and deservedly so."

Goalkeeper Jillian Kelley (Simsbury, Conn.) had six saves in securing the victory. Dartmouth's goalkeeper Colleen Hogan made three saves in the defeat.

Velaj got the Bobcats on the board in the 22^nd minute of play off of a free kick taken outside of the box. The shot was driven into the lower left corner of the goal and slid past Hogan. Velaj made it 2-0 in the 32^nd minute off of an assist by sophomore Kemesha Woodfine (Stamford, Conn.). Woodfine took on a Dartmouth defender and crossed a ball in front of the goal to find Velaj for the one-timer.

Down 2-0 at the half, Dartmouth cut the deficit in half when freshman Chrissy Lozier scored off of an assist by sophomore Libby Hamlin in the 73^rd minute of the game. Lozier shot the ball into the lower right corner, which bounced off the goal post and into the net. Quinnipiac responded in the 89^th minute of the game as Woodfine passed the ball through the defense to find Velaj who completed her hat trick.

"We didn't drop our heads when they pulled a goal back," said Clarke. "Furtuna got the third (goal) just when we needed it most."

Quinnipiac looks to Sunday, when they host the University of Rhode Island in a non-conference match. The game is set to begin at noon.