HAT TRICKS HELP FURMAN TO 10-1 VICTORY

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- In a Saturday evening of overwhelming offense, Furman's Emily Turgeon, Danielle Petro, and Melissa Turner each recorded a hat trick to lead the Lady Paladin soccer team to a 10-1 victory over Mississippi State in the Umbro Challenge. A pair of Furman records fell, including goals in a match (10) and hat tricks in a match (3). The win was Furman's second of the year over an SEC opponent and further solidified the Lady Paladins' best start in school history, running their 2000 record to 8-0.

Furman freshman Emily Turgeon took matters into her own hands early in the match, staking the Lady Paladins to a 2-0 lead less than 13 minutes into the competition. A score by Mississippi State's Michelle Provenzano at the 25:07 mark cut Furman's lead to one, but freshman Danielle Petro scored a pair of goals off assists by Nicole Malseed to give the Lady Paladins a 4-1 lead at the 32:11 mark. The score held and Furman took a three-goal advantage into the half.

In the second period Petro refined her offensive role, making a pass to junior Melissa Turner at the 49:43 mark, that resulted in the Lady Paladins' fifth goal of the day, and Turner's eighth of the season. With 28 minutes left to play, however, Petro again found the goal, recording her second hat trick of the year on a pass from Turgeon. Less than a minute later Turgeon picked up a hat trick with a breakaway goal to give Furman the 7-1 lead, and at 69:29, Turner added her ninth goal of the year and second of the night when she dribbled past two MSU defenders for the score. Two minutes later her hat trick goal came on an unassisted breakaway. Junior Kathy Gaertner ended the Furman scoring spree at 79:52 on the Lady Paladins' fourth unassisted goal of the evening.

"It is always nice to give our young players some key experience, and we are real excited when they step in and keep the level of play high," said Furman coach Brian Lee. "It was also nice to see our forwards working so well in the box and striking so efficiently when they had the chance."

For her efforts, Danielle Petro earned Umbro Challenge Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by fellow Lady Paladins Melissa Turner, Emily Turgeon, and Katie Carson. Mississippi State was represented by Michelle Provenzano and Beth Dreher, while Elon's Erin Lautermilch and Erin Morse were also honored. The Eagles of Georgia Southern placed four on the all-tournament team - Genevieve Ward, Andrea Pfeiffer, Jackie Kinsey, and Janis Milne.

Scoring

FUR - Emily Turgeon (Kaye Brownlee) 4:02

FUR - Emily Turgeon (Sarah Tollick & Melissa Turner) 12:26

MSU - Michelle Provenzano (Beth Dreher) 25:07

FUR - Danielle Petro (Nicole Malseed) 27:03

FUR - Danielle Petro (Nicole Malseed) 32:11

FUR - Melissa Turner (Danielle Petro) 49:43

FUR - Danielle Petro (Emily Turgeon) 62:50

FUR - Emily Turgeon 63:46

FUR - Melissa Turner 69:29

FUR - Melissa Turner 71:12

FUR - Kathy Gaertner 79:52

Shots: FUR - 27 MSU - 6

Corner Kicks: FUR - 4 MSU -4

Saves: FUR - 2 MSU - 8

Fouls: FUR - 10 MSU - 12