Spring Arbor junior Karly Linton netted a first half hat trick, her second of the season, to lead the Lady Cougar women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Grace College tonight.

Grace entered the game nipping at SAU's heels.  The Lancer's were sitting at 3-1 in a tight Crossroads League race and occupied the #2 spot in the conference standings.  Grace was also the only Crossroads League team to beat SAU last season, as the Cougars finished the year 7-1 in conference action in 2011.

Spring Arbor got things rolling early and created several good chances in the opening minutes of the match.  It wasn't until the 13th minute that Linton would find the game winner, however.  After connecting a couple passes, the Cougars found senior Maegan Smith on the left flank.  Smith cut back on her defender and laid a perfect pass off to Linton who shook her defender and fired a right footed effort past Grace goalkeeper Abagail Burns from the top of the Lancer penalty area.

Linton was back at it just seven minutes later, taking a pass from fellow junior Ashley DeNio and burying it past Burns with another right footed strike.

The Midland, Michigan native completed the hat trick six minutes later in the 27th minute when she ran through a desperation clearance deep in the Grace box and the ball caromed off her mid section and into the net. The goals were Linton's 13th, 14th and 15th of the season.

SAU out-shot the visiting Lancers 11-1 in the first half of play.

The Cougars added some garnish shortly after halftime when junior Brooklyn Morgan nodded home her 8th goal of the campaign off another quality service from DeNio.  Spring Arbor went on to out-shoot Grace 10-0 in the second half to make the shot tally 21-1 for the match.

"The team played well tonight," commented SAU head coach Jason Crist.  "We did a great job of neutralizing a very good Grace team.  The defense played well, we did a good job of capitalizing on our opportunities to score, and we were relentless with our work rate.  I am very pleased with the focus and effort we put out there tonight."

Crist went on to laud the play of his midfield in the match.  "Obviously Karly had a great night," finished Crist.  "It's the play of Braydan Wiles and Ashley DeNio that allow her the freedom to do what she does best, however.  Those two players are the un-sung heroes of this team.  They shoulder a tremendous amount of work for the good of the team.  Without them, we are definitely a diminished side."

The NAIA #6 ranked Cougars have a few days to rest up for yet another pivotal Crossroads League match when they travel to Fort Wayne on Saturday to take on the Huntington University Foresters. Huntington is in a two way tie with the University of St. Francis for second place in the Crossroads League standings.  Huntington, who is 4-1 in CL action, disposed of Mount Vernon Nazarene University 1-0 in overtime tonight.  The match will be played at the stadium field at the Fort Wayne Sports Club and will kick off at noon on Saturday.