Burton Notches 8th Career Hat Trick In 5-1 Win At UNCP

PEMBROKE, N.C. - Senior Kristin Burton registered her eighth career hat trick as the Armstrong Atlantic State women's soccer squad picked up a 5-1 Peach Belt Conference victory over UNC Pembroke on Saturday evening in Pembroke, N.C.

With the win, the Pirates (11-3-3, 7-2 PBC) have clinched a first-round home match in the upcoming PBC Championships, while UNC Pembroke (8-7-1, 3-5-1 PBC) remains tied with a group of three other schools for the final two spots in the eight-team field.

The five goals scored by the Pirates are the most given up by a UNC Pembroke squad in a streak of 60 matches, since #3 Tusculum defeated the Braves, 5-0, on Oct. 16, 2006.

Burton got the scoring started off in the match's second minute as she took the ball from a UNC Pembroke defender, broke in on Braves keeper Rea Segoviano and beat her with the shot to put the Pirates up, 1-0.

In the 25th minute, Burton then delivered on a free kick from 25 yards out, beating Segoviano for a 2-0 lead that the Pirates would take into halftime.

The 63rd minute started a flurry of action as freshman Morgan Mitchell headed in a goal off of a Burton corner kick, putting AASU up, 3-0. Just three minutes later, however, UNC Pembroke would find the net on a bizarre sequence.

A foul whistled against UNC Pembroke on AASU goalkeeper Meghan Mayville stopped play, but with players tangled up in the box, Mayville was guilty of shoving another UNC Pembroke player, and the center official awarded a penalty kick to the Braves as a result.

UNCP defender Fanny Forsman converted on the penalty kick in the 66th minute to cut the AASU lead to 3-1.

Under three minutes later, however, Burton answered with an unassisted goal in the 69th minute to collect the hat trick and put the Pirates back up by three goals.

Björg Magnea Ólafs capped the scoring on the night by heading in a goal off of a Danielle Fey corner kick in the 73rd minute.

UNC Pembroke held a 13-12 advantage in shots on the night, as well as a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks. AASU was whistled for nine fouls, compared to eight for the Pirates.

Mayville, in her first start as a Pirate, registered five saves in 77 minutes of action for AASU. Segoviano made four saves in net for the Braves.

Burton's 87 career goals ties her for 11th on the NCAA Division II all-time goal scoring chart with Jannie Nicolaisen of Lynn. With her 31st career assist on Morgan Mitchell's goal, Burton now trails FMU's Katie Roberts by four for the PBC's all-time assist lead.

AASU will be next in action on Thursday, October 29, with a 3:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference match against Flagler - the "Kick for the Cure" match that was originally scheduled to be played back on Oct. 14.