September 20, 2011
San Antonio – Andrea Gregg turned to a teammate and asked what many were thinking when St. Mary’s third goal dribbled into the net in the waning moments in Tuesday’s victory.
“What just happened?” asked Gregg (Sr., Austin, Texas) with a giggle.
Oh, only the usual – Kaitie Kasperitis finding the back of the net for the Lady Rattlers’ women’s soccer team.
The freshman sensation recorded her first collegiate hat trick in a 4-0 victory over Texas A&M International in the Heartland Conference opener, including scoring back-to-back goals in the 87th and 89th minutes.
The first of the two goals was wild, piquing Gregg’s interest following a zany scene in front of the goal; the second was downright unbelievable.
Kasperitis (Fr., Corpus Christi, Texas), the reigning Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, was credited with a goal that loosely dribbled off the goalkeeper and into the net in the 87th minute following a mad scramble in the box. Two minutes later, she made a laid-out kick several feet in front of the net to find the right corner for her third goal on the day.
She had also scored St. Mary’s (4-1-1, 1-0 in Heartland Conference) first goal, using a Leah Snelson (So., Dallas) assist for her first goal, which came 18 minutes into the game.
Kasperitis leads the Rattlers with seven goals through six games.
“I decided to play every game like I always do; I came out and played hard,” said Kasperitis, only the ninth Rattler ever to record a hat trick. “I gave all my effort on the field and left it there.”
Carolyn Martin (Jr., San Antonio) also scored in the game, helping the Rattlers open up a 2-0 first-half lead to start conference play with a rout of A&M International (1-5, 0-1).
With the Rattlers controlling the tempo throughout the entirety of the game, goalkeeper Paola Ostos (So., El Paso, Texas) wasn’t tested often. But when she was, she more than proved she was up to the challenge.
Ostos pitched a shutout in the net, recording three saves on A&M International’s five shots. She has given up just one goal over the past two games, her only starts of the season.
Next up for St. Mary’s is a road game against Central Oklahoma at 4 p.m. Friday.