Junior Karly Linton recorded her first collegiate hat trick in a Spring Arbor 4-0 victory over visiting Bethel College Tuesday night.

The Pilots, who entered the match at 5-3 overall and flying high after a victory over then NAIA #25 ranked Siena Heights University (MI) over the weekend, were looking to avenge a 3-0 loss the Cougars dealt them last fall in Mishawaka, IN.

The Cougars were having none of it, however.  Spring Arbor played suffocating defense and held the ball for long stretches of the match, forcing Bethel to chase and use their energy to defend rather than look to attack through leading goal scorer Nicole Steller.  Steller entered the match leading the Crossroads League with 11 goals on the season.

SAU's on the ball dominance and swarming defense allowed the Cougars to hold Steller and the rest of the Pilot team without a shot in the contest.  For SAU it was the second consecutive opponent held to no shots, and the Lady Cougars have allowed just two shots total in their last three matches.

Linton grabbed the game winner in the first half off an assist from roommate Brooklyn Morgan.  Morgan found Linton about 15 yards from the Pilot goal, and Linton pulled a nifty turn on her defender before slotting the ball past Bethel goalkeeper Sarah Mott.

In spite of launching 14 shots in the first stanza, the Cougars were not able to solve Mott again and headed into half up 1-0.

Linton added insurance just one minute into the second half as senior Megan Wegener played her in behind the Pilot defense and the Midland, Michigan native slotted her second of the night underneath Mott's dive.  Just eleven minutes later Linton finished the hat trick, scoring an unassisted goal in the 57th minute.

Morgan put the icing on the cake in the 84th minute, as she hooked up with sophomore Megan Colby.  Colby threaded a pass between the Pilot center backs for Morgan to run on to, and the Spring Arbor, Michigan native finished past Mott, who came charging off her line, making the final score 4-0 in favor of the hosts.

Spring Arbor out-shot the Pilots 28-0 on the evening and put 16 efforts on frame.  Mott was credited with nine stops in the match.

Freshman Sarah Yancer did not have to pick up a save as she recorded her sixth shutout of the season.  The Cougars have shut out five opponents in a row, and have not conceded a goal in over 450 minutes of play.  Spring Arbor has recorded seven total shutouts in 2012.

The Cougars will hit the road for their next match, as they travel to Indianapolis to take on Marian University on Saturday.  Marian fell to the University of St. Francis in their Crossroads League opener by a score of 3-0.