Oct. 6, 2006

Box Score

OLEAN, N.Y. - Junior Cassi Winchell tallied her first career hat trick as No. 17 Saint Louis claimed a 3-0 victory at St. Bonaventure this afternoon. Senior Courtney Hulcer assisted on two of Winchell's goals to move into first place on SLU's all-time assists list with 35 in her career.

The Billikens dominated possession in the first half, but the Bonnies battled to allow just eight shots in the period. SLU took the 1-0 lead in the 17th minute off its second-straight corner. Hulcer picked up her school-record tying 34th career assist as she sent the corner to the far post for Kelly Waeckerle. The freshman forward one-timed it back to the middle where Winchell volleyed it home for the early lead.

The three also combined on the second goal of the game in the 59th minute. Hulcer started things in the midfield and sent Waeckerle toward the endline on the right side. After eluding a defender, Waeckerle found space to serve the ball low to the middle of the box where Winchell again volleyed it home from four yards out.

Just more than a minute later, Winchell completed the hat trick, virtually duplicating her first goal from the other side of the field. Hulcer served a corner in to the far side just off the corner of the six-yard box. Alex Twellman headed it down to Winchell's feet, and the junior tapped it home for a 3-0 lead.

SLU played the majority of the rest of the half without a starter on the field and continued to pressure the Bonnies. St. Bona struggled to push forward, and freshman goalkeeper Amber Zdanovec needed just three saves to collect her second-straight shutout in just her second career start.

The Billikens (7-1-2, 2-0-0 A-10) travel to Fordham for a noon (CT) game on Sun., Oct. 8. It will be the third game of their five-game road swing.