Hat Tricks Boost Women's Soccer to First Win of 2024

MCPHERSON, Kan. – A couple of hat trick performances from forwards Darcy Cato and Emma Schieber launched Baker women's soccer to its first win of the 2024 season as the Wildcats claimed a commanding 7-2 victory over McPherson on Wednesday evening.

By the time 25 minutes had gone off the clock, Schieber had already earned her hat trick and Cato followed suit with her third goal coming in the game's final 10 minutes to cap the road win for BU.

"Any day you put seven goals in the back of the net is a good day," said Baker head coach Sara Matthews. "We did a lot of good things tonight and we absolutely need to build confidence from this result."

Overall, the Wildcats held a 25-10 advantage in shots with 10 of them coming off the foot of Cato. Freshman goalkeeper Avery Young drew her first collegiate start and held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the first half, saving the only shot that landed on target during her 45 minutes of action.

With the first two goals coming less than a minute apart, Schieber began her scoring tear with a 25-yard rocket in the 21st minute and followed up with her second moments later after Emeil Bennett came away with a steal deep in Bulldogs territory and set Schieber up to give BU a quick 2-0 lead.

Baker capitalized on another Bulldogs turnover just four minutes later with Macie Albright sliding up to intercept a pass and finding Schieber on the edge of the box, who gave a nifty deke and bagged her third straight goal.

Following Schieber's hat trick, it was Cato's turn to tag in on the scoring as she broke free on a BU counter-attack in the 31st minute and found herself one-on-one with the goalie where she was able to chip one over to make it a 4-0 lead before halftime.

In the second half, the Wildcats continued to strike offensively with Caitlin Youles converting the team's first PK of the year after a penalty in the box in the 48th minute.

Cato made it six unanswered goals for BU in the 56th minute with an impressive run along the left side that resulted in her second goal of the match.

After the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard with back-to-back goals, Cato's hat trick garnished the evening with her goal in the 84th minute sealing the 7-2 win and giving the Wildcats their most goals in a match since a 7-0 victory against Park in 2020.

"I'm definitely proud of the girls for responding so well after Saturday's game," added Matthews. "However, we can't stop here and have to take it day-by-day, brick-by-brick. We still have a long way to go on both sides of the ball, but tonight was a great step in the right direction for us."

Up next, Baker will host its first home game of the season with Missouri Baptist coming to town on Saturday, Aug. 24 for a non-conference matchup that is set to start at 5 p.m. from Hartley Field.

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