Freshman Olivia Dalke (Dallas, Ore./Dallas) not only scored her first collegiate goal, but also tallied her first career hat trick as the Eastern Mennonite University women's soccer team topped Sweet Briar College 6-0 on a windy Saturday afternoon in the Shenandoah Valley. Both teams were playing for their first ODAC win.

The Royals (3-5-2) were in full offensive control throughout the match, prohibiting the Vixen to get any shots off. The Royals recorded 32 shots, after putting 21 on cage. To say that the offense kept the Sweet Briar goalkeeper and defense on their toes for the entire match would be an understatement.

Mixing things up offensively, the women attacked and recorded the first shot attempt of the match in the first 15 seconds of play.

Not even one minute later, Dalke found the back of the net after freshman Rachel Sauder (Lyndhurst, Va./Stuarts Draft) found her on the left side, just outside of the box.

At the 3:24 minute mark, Sauder would cash in for her second goal of the season on a cross from freshman Leigh Lumsden (Madison, Va./Madison County). On the right wing, Lumsden sent the ball to Sauder who was then able to maneuver around her defender to give herself room to score.

After halftime, EMU pulled away in with a four-goal performance to put the exclamation point on today's win.

Dalke came out strong in the second half scoring the next two consecutive goals of the match to put EMU up 4-0; her goals were both assisted.

Sophomore defender Kylie Paul (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) sent a great ball from midfield to freshman Liz Huffman (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg Area), who was near the corner of  the right side of the field. Huffman crossed to Dalke who shot from directly in front of the cage.

Within five minutes, Dalke would score again, heading the ball in the net, from a Bailey McInnis (Henrico, Va./Mills E. Goodwin) cross.

Just one minute later, Sara Shenk Moreno (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) led sophomore Laura Rittenhouse (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) with a breakaway ball, which Rittenhouse buried to the back of the cage.

Closing out the scoring slate for the Royals was senior Marcy Smucker (Woodward, Pa./Penns Valley) who attacked when Sweet Briar's goalkeeper was found in a scramble in front of the net.

Megan Breidigan (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) attempted a shot which was deflected to Smucker who wasted no time to get on the board. Smucker struck and sent the ball to the right side of the goal.

For the match, the Royals dominated in all aspects, blanking the Vixen in shots (32-0), shots on goal (21-0), and gaining a 13-0 corner kick advantage.

Sophomore Leah Wenger (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) started in goal for the Royals. Coming off of the bench in the second half was sophomore Emily Young (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax). With the majority of the time spent on the offensive end, neither goalkeeper saw much action.

EMU's freshman collectively combined for four goals and four assists on the day.

The Royals are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 4 when they host Washington and Lee University for a 7:00 game under the lights.