Trinity women’s soccer team logged 43 shots, including 20 shots on goal in their 9–0 dominating victory over the Austin College Kangaroos.

After a morning and early afternoon filled with heavy rain, many players were skeptical whether the game would happen. A lighter rain lasted the majority of the game, but the thunderstorms stayed away, allowing the game to be played.

The rain and muddy field actually gave Trinity an advantage over the Kangaroos.

“The wet field helped us in a way because it made us play faster, said Chelsea Cole, Trinity senior midfielder and co-captain. “The ball skids across the ground faster and over feet a lot more when it is wet. And when you are playing a team that can’t keep up with the pace, it ends up being a real advantage.”

From the beginning, Trinity outperformed Austin College, who was win-less on the season. Trinity had four corner kicks within the first five minutes while Austin College didn’t record a corner kick the entire game.

Cole began the scoring for the Tigers when she knocked home a goal in the ninth minute.

“I had missed a few shots in our previous game and was eager to get on the board early in the game,” Cole said. “I usually start playing at center mid[fielder], but I actually started at forward this game, so it was a nice change of pace. I was able to try some new things and break through their defense and then actually fell down trying to get the ball around their keeper, but was able to get up and finish. It’s always nice to score the first goal of the game and get the team to relax a little.”

The team may have relaxed their nerves, but they didn’t relax their attack. Cole scored the second goal of the game in the 17th minute after a pass from senior midfielder Emily Welp. Cole took one dribble into the box and blasted the ball with her right foot over the head of Kangaroo goalie Maya Erwin into the back side of the net.

After first-year Trinity midfielder Kaity Ward notched her first collegiate goal in the 20th minute, Cole completed her hat trick — a milestone that every soccer player hopes to reach — in the 30th minute off an assist from senior Katie Peth to make the game 4–0.

In the 39th minute, Tiger sophomore Hannah Lane assisted first-year Madison Horner on her first collegiate goal. Horner’s goal began a frenzy of offense as sophomores Abby Blackwood and Tori Schott scored unassisted goals in the 41st and 44th minutes, respectively.

The Tigers led the Kangaroos 7–0 at halftime. Trinity had all but secured the victory, yet they still managed to remain focused on the game.

“We prioritize keeping our energy high throughout the whole game no matter what the circumstance because we know there are always areas we can improve in,” Cole said.

The Tigers received a penalty kick in the 48th minute after a Kangaroo defender committed a foul in the box off sophomore Lindsey Peng’s corner kick. Co-captain Cole took the penalty kick and registered her fourth goal of the game, tying the single-game record for most goals in a game. She is the seventh Trinity Women’s Soccer player to score four goals in one game. She was the first to do so since Julia Camp in 2016, also against Austin College.

Trinity head soccer coach Dylan Harrison substituted Cole for Blackwood, ending Cole’s pursuit for a record-setting five goal game.

“Of course I always want to stay in the game, but I also enjoy seeing my other teammates get out on the field and play,” Cole said. “We had a few people score their first collegiate goals which is exciting to watch. Getting everyone in the game really helps the whole team improve.”

Cole noted the differences between high school soccer and collegiate soccer.

“Especially with the majority of our team being freshman and sophomores, it is really important for them to get experience playing in a game setting,” Cole said. “It can be really different from playing in club or high school and takes some adjusting. They also can build their confidence and start to show off their strengths.”

In the 67th minute, Tori Schott beat the keeper after a pass from Peng for her first multi-goal game. The Tigers continued to wreak havoc on the Kangaroos’ goalie, but Kangaroos’ goalie Erwin finally held her ground and allowed no more goals. Erwin finished with 11 saves for a save percentage of 55 percent.

Trinity’s women soccer team will play Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Johnson & Wales University on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. on Paul McGinlay Soccer Field.