Kristin Burton's Seventh Hat Trick Leads No. 18 AASU To 3-1 Win

AIKEN, S.C. - Armstrong Atlantic State senior forward Kristin Burton tallied her seventh career hat trick as the No. 18-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State women's soccer squad notched a 3-1 Peach Belt Conference victory over host USC Aiken on Wednesday evening in Aiken, S.C.

The win keeps the Pirates (8-1-2, 4-0 PBC) atop the Peach Belt Conference standings, while USC Aiken (2-6, 0-3 PBC) stayed winless in league play so far this season.

The reigning three-time PBC Player of the Week, Burton wasted no time in putting the Pirates ahead as she one-timed a pass from freshman Morgan Mitchell past USC Aiken keeper Nicole Westphal in the fifth minute of the match for an early 1-0 AASU lead.

In the 32nd minute, Erin Holt's pass into the box allowed Burton to dribble past Westphal and tally the goal for a 2-0 lead. It would remain 2-0 into halftime in otherwise what was an even match - AASU held a slim 6-5 edge on shots, but Pirate keeper Tracey Mitchell had to make four first-half saves.

Burton's hat trick came in the 61st minute, off of another assist by Mitchell, her seventh of her career and bringing her ever closer to the Peach Belt Conference all-time scoring record. The Ocala, Fla., native now has 81 career goals, just two shy of Olaitan Yusuf's record of 83. The two goals also moves her into a tie for 16th all-time in NCAA DII history with Diana Trzaska of Philadelphia.

The Pacers rallied after that goal and made the last third of the match interesting. USC Aiken tallied a goal in the 70th minute as Maria Frontroth notched her first score of the match, and the Pacers outshot the Pirates, 6-4, in the second half and held a 3-0 edge in corner kicks after intermission.

The Pirates return to action on Saturday, October 3, with a Peach Belt Conference match at Montevallo at 2:00 p.m.