Oct. 28, 2011

Box Score

Eugene, Ore. - Sophomore Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick recorded her first career hat trick with three goals and an assist to lead the No. 22 California women's soccer team to a 4-0 rout of Oregon Friday night at Pape Field in Eugene, Ore.

Junior Lauren Battung added a score for the Golden Bears, who improved to 12-4-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Ducks fell to 8-8-2 overall and 3-5-1 in the league with the loss.

"Tonight was a very good all-around team performance," Cal head coach Neil McGuire said. "We received great goals from Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick and Lauren Battung to lift us past a hard-working and well-coached Oregon team."

Fitzpatrick, who netted her first career goal against Oregon as a freshman last season, scored goals in the eighth, 52nd and 70th minute, while assisting on Battung's score in the 58th minute.

"I felt that our team has worked so hard to be on the same page all season," Fitzpatrick said. "Our hard work and attention to tactics has really paid off for us. Tonight, we left everything on the field and played together. We linked up on the field and showed no hesitation to attack."

The sophomore got a clear look and fired Cal's first shot 7:32 into the contest. Oregon goal keeper Abby Steele was there but the ball slipped right through her hands, coming to rest in the back of the net for the score.

The remainder of the first half was quiet for both squads, but Fitzpatrick opened the second half in similar fashion as the first. Just under seven minutes into the second period, Fitzpatrick took a feed from junior Betsy Hassett and drew Steele out from the goal mouth a little bit before firing a shot from 10 yards for her second score of the contest at the 51:50 mark.

The sophomore was on the giving end of Cal's next score. She dribbled down the right side and passed to Battung at the top of the box and the junior buried the shot to put the Bears up 3-0 at 57:40.

Fitzpatrick completed her first career hat trick at the 69:57 mark to extend Cal's lead to four goals. It was the first three scores for the sophomore this season.

Sophomore goal keeper Emily Kruger, who had a pair of saves, worked the first 75 minutes of the contest before handing the reins over to Kathleen Messinger, who completed the final 14:42 of scoreless soccer. Cal posted its ninth shutout of the season, holding its opponent scoreless for the second-straight match.

The Bears controlled possession throughout the match en route to the win. Fitzpatrick scored on three of her team-high four shots in the match. The Bears and Ducks each had nine shots in the contest. Steele posted four saves for the Ducks.

The victory was the fifth-straight for Cal over Oregon and improved the Bears to 13-1-1 all-time against Ducks.

Cal returns to action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. match against Oregon State at Paul Lorenz Field in Corvallis, Ore.