Bolivar, Mo. — SBU Women's Soccer showed up to the field today ready to start their season off strong. Facing Missouri Southern this afternoon in their first regular season match, the Bearcats scored three goals and earned their first victory of the season.
 
Senior forward Tamerra Gantt (#11) led her team to victory by scoring all three goals of the game, completing the hat trick. Out of 7 total shots, Gantt had 4 shots on target, including her three goals. Assisted by midfielder Samantha Mullen (#9) from a corner kick, Gantt scored the Bearcats first goal just shy of eleven minutes into the game. Ecstatic, her teammates rushed around her cheering. The Bearcats carried their early momentum through the rest of the match.
 
SBU's second goal came in the final minute of the first half, as Gantt beat a defender and the goalie, notching her second of the game. The Missouri Southern Lions tightened the game up just a few minutes into the second half. Gantt scored SBU's third goal of the game during the second half, completing her first career hat trick.
 
Overall, SBU outperformed Missouri Southern's offense with almost double the amount of shots and maintained a strong defense. Senior defender Sam Short (#10) joined Gantt as a leader on the field with two attempted shots, including one shot on target. Midfielder Kimbrelyn Thrower (#14), forward Lydia Fickle (#25), and defender Alyssa Broeckling (#27) all earned a shot on goal during the game. Goalkeeper Cece Alexander (#1) saved four attempted shots from Missouri Southern.
 
Alexander and defenders Emma Burton (#23) and Kenadie Limb (#29) earned the most time on the field, playing the full ninety minutes.
 
The Bearcats now stand 1-0 for the season, while they await their game against Newman University on Saturday, September 6th at 3 p.m in Bolivar, Missouri at the SBU Soccer Field.