Wendt's Hat-Trick Leads Fontbonne To Its First Win Over The Lady Blues

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Behind Meredith Wendt's hat-trick the Fontbonne University women's soccer team cruised past Illinois College on Thursday night, 7-1.

The Griffins dominated on the stat sheet as they outshot the Lady Blues 37-3 on the evening, which is a season-high shot total. Joining Wendt in the goal department, included, Kierstyn Weaver, Karlie Peth (two) and Ellen Weaver.  In goal, Makayla Hussong picked up her first win on the year after making two saves.

Illinois College (1-4), got its lone goal in the second half off the foot of Mychaela Bennett. In net, Charlotte Crofton did all she could, making 14 saves.

It was all Fontbonne from the opening kick-off as they outshot the Lady Blues 5-0 in the first eight minutes alone. Then, at the 8:46 mark, Peth and Wendt played a little give-and-go at midfield as Peth carried the ball down the left side of the field.

She crossed it over to Weaver at the top of the box and she beat Crofton on the short-side to give them a 1-0 lead. The team wasn't done there as in the 15^th minute, Hannah Andrzejewski crossed the ball just outside the box onto the head of Peth, and she headed it off the bottom of the crossbar, into the net to make it 2-0.

The scoring frenzy continued in the 22^nd minute. Peth crossed the ball from the left side of the box and Crofton dove to her left to tip the ball away, however, Wendt was right there to blast her shot in for her first goal of the game, extending the lead out to 3-0.

FBU dominated the rest of the way, outshooting the Lady Blues 19-0 and they were able to head into halftime on top, 3-0.

In the second half, it took just over a minute for Wendt to net her second of the game. IC turned the ball over deep in its own end and the ball landed right on Wendt's foot. The senior kicked it right over the outstretched arm of Crofton, pushing the advantage to 4-0.

Wendt then collected her second assist of the game in the 54^th minute. She got the ball 25 yards out and passed it over to Ellen Weaver, who used the defender's screening of Crofton to her advantage, bending her shot around the net-minder, making it 5-0.

Three minutes later, Wendt scored a beauty for her third of the game. There was a battle inside the Lady Blues box for the ball. Ellen Weaver came out with it, gave a short pass to Wendt and she one timed it over Crofton, giving the home team a commanding 6-0 lead.

The teams' final goal came in the 57^th minute with Jacey Pate crossing a perfect ball onto a cutting Peth's foot. Her initial shot was saved, but she scored on the rebound. The Lady Blues kept battling though and scored in the 62^nd minute, but the deficit was too great with the Griffins going on for the win.

The team will be back at it on Sunday afternoon when they'll take on Rhodes. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates and recaps on the women's soccer team.