Eastern Mennonite University

ROANOKE, Va. - Coming off their first ODAC win on Saturday against Guilford College, the Royals traveled down south to Roanoke to face Hollins University.

The Royals came out motivated as they managed to score five goals in the first half en route to a 9-1 win over the Green and Gold.

Records
EMU 3-4-2, 2-0 ODAC | Hollins 1-5-0, 0-2 ODAC

Highlights

• The linkup between Hannah Kepler and Esme Cardoso would be crucial for the Royals as they created several scoring opportunities. The first one would come in the fourth minute after a cross into the box from Cardoso that Kepler successfully tapped in to convert the Royals' first goal of the match.
• Only five minutes later, Cardoso would stamp her name on the score board after she drove the ball into the box to take a crossed shot and give the Royals a 2-0 lead.
• In the 11th minute, the Cardoso-Kepler duo would strike once again for Kepler to score her second goal of the match for a 3-0 score.
• It was a memorable day for EMU's first-year, Alexis Wetzel, as in her first game as a starter, she scored her first career goal, coming off the assist from Ella Nguyen, giving EMU a 4-0 lead. Wetzel also became the first freshman to score this season for the Royals.
• The Cardoso-Kepler duo would strike once again in the 26th minute, this time with Cardoso scoring off the assist from Kepler. Keeper CJ Jefferson had three shots sent her way by HU, and turned away all three, keeping Hollins off the board and giving EMU a 5-0 lead at the break.   
• The Royals wouldn't take long to score after the start of the second half when, in the 47th minute, Bridget Hay scored the Royals' sixth goal of the match after a volley from a throw-in by Maggie Ladd.
• Four minutes later, Cardoso would find her third goal of the match after a long driven ball from midfield, giving the junior her first-career hat trick and giving the Royals a 7-0 advantage. 
• Hay would produce her second hat trick of the season after scoring in the 53rd and 81st minutes of the match to give the Royals a 9-0 lead.
• Hollins would find a late goal in the second half after a cross shot that would end the game at 9-1. This result marks the most goals scored in a game for the Royals since the 2022 regular season finale, a 10-0 win at Hollins.
• Cardoso and Hay became the first Royals duo to score hat tricks in the same game since an 11-0 win over Mary Baldwin on September 13, 2018, when Laura Rittenhouse and Leigh Lumsden each netted three apiece. 

Statistical Leaders
Goals: Cardoso and Hay (3), Kepler (2), Wetzel (1)
Assists: Cardoso (2), Kepler and Nguyen (1)
Saves: Jefferson (3)

What's Next
The Royals will be back in action Wednesday night for a home non-conference game against the Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM.

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