Sept. 20, 2009

Box Score

THIBODAUX - Junior forward Kaity Mattsson's first goal of the match put her all alone atop the school record books, and her second proved to be all the Colonels would need on Sunday. However, the Nicholls State University women's soccer team (3-5-0), didn't stop there as freshman Jessica Herradon recorded her first career hat trick and sophomores Kandice Champagne and Alana DeHeart also found the back of the net as the Colonels cruised to a 7-1 win over Texas Southern at home on Sunday.

The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Colonels in their first action at home in 16 days.

Mattsson got things started early on for the Colonels with her 18th career goal coming in the tenth minute on an assist from Champagne to make it 1-0. Mattsson's sixth goal of the season gave her sole possession of first place on the school's all-time goals scored list, passing Kim Robinson who totaled 17 goals from 2001-2004.

"She scored a couple of real nice goals," head coach Dylan Harrison said of Mattsson. "She's a very dangerous player and has been a big part of our offense. She's worked hard to get where she is, and it's always nice to see one of your players set a school record.

The Colonels were just getting warmed up as Champagne scored on an open net off a cross from sophomore Sam Etherington to put Nicholls up 2-0 in the 18th minute.

Mattsson found the net again by scoring off a rebound in the box at the 21:16 mark to make it 3-0, and Herradon's first career goal four minutes later sent Nicholls into the half with a 4-0 advantage.

Jessica Herradon's first career hat trick was the Colonels' second of the season, but just the third in school history

The Colonels continued to dominate possession as play resumed. DeHeart got the second half scoring started with a strike three minutes into the half off a Carolyn Noble assist to make it 5-0.

Ten minutes later, Herradon struck again as Mattsson set her up for her second goal of the game at the 58:02 mark to push the Colonel lead to 6-0. The freshman wasn't done yet, however as Katie Peterson provided the assist on Herradon's third and final goal of the afternoon to make it 7-0 in the 76th minute.

Herradon's first career hat trick was the second of the season for the Colonels, but just the third in the program's history. Mattsson's hat trick against Alabama A&M on Sept. 11 was the first of the season and the first since Alicia Gautreau's 2008 hat trick provided the first three-goal game in the program's history.

"Jessica is a quality player," Harrison said. "I think she's starting to figure out the college game a little bit, which is a challenge for any freshman. Given time and opportunity, she can be a very dangerous player and she proved that today. She worked hard on the ball and off the ball to create some opportunities. It was great to see."

Texas Southern would get on the board with a goal off a corner kick in the 84th minute, but it was too-little, too-late as the Colonels picked up the 7-1 win.

"We were able to get a lot of players into the game today," Harrison said. "It was great to give a chance to the girls that have been working hard during the week. Getting them on the field and getting them involved, and seeing them contribute was really good to see. Hopefully, they will have an appreciation and see that all their hard work has really been paying off."

Nicholls will return to action when they visit Jackson State on Friday, Sept. 25. The Colonels will return home on Sept. 29 to host Alcorn State.