Box Score VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH ALEMAN & SOUSA
WASHINGTON - Lindsay Aleman guided The Catholic University of America women's soccer team to a spot in the Landmark Conference Finals when she notched a hat trick in CUA's 3-0 semifinal victory over Moravian College on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals extend their season record to 15-2 overall while the Greyhounds close out their 2015 campaign 4-10-3.
Aleman scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to shutout the Greyhounds and notch her second hat trick of the 2015 season. The junior now sits at 20 goals for the year tying the CUA women's soccer program's leading single season goal scorer, Laura Kaye, from the 2005 CAC Championship team.
The top seeded Cardinals played the fourth seeded Greyhounds to a draw over the first 45 minutes of play. Catholic, although maintaining possession in the first half outshooting Moravian 7-0, was unable to capitalize on a shot.
"We needed to play the entire game right from the opening whistle today and we did. The team came out with pressure and made things happen," said CUA head coach J.P. Sousa
The Cards took the pitch with aggression in the second 45 minutes, outshooting the Hounds 12-2. Aleman finally found the back of the net in the 70th minute with a header inside the left post. Senior Ava Brown served a Catholic corner kick that freshman Taylor Pisk used her head to knock the ball to Aleman for the opening goal of the contest.
"At halftime we talked about what we needed to do to execute," explained Aleman. "In the second half I watched the plays adjust and when the ball came to me I knew what I needed to do to get the goal."
Seven minutes after her first goal Aleman struck again. Senior Kirsten Wosleger chipped a pass to her foot that she one touched past the keeper. Aleman completed the hat trick in the 86th minute when she drilled an unassisted shot into the net from the top of the penalty box, capping off the Cardinal's semifinal victory 3-0.
Aleman and Pisk led the offense with six shots apiece while senior Lexi Halperin played the full game guarding the net for the Cards.
Catholic will continue their post season run with the Landmark Conference Final match on Saturday, November 7, at 1 p.m., at CUA Soccer Field. Their opponent will be decided in the Wednesday night's 7 p.m. semifinal matchup between No. 2 Scranton and No. 3 Elizabethtown
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