Jersey City, N.J. (9/26/12) – Senior Carly Seidel netted a hat trick as the Kean University women's soccer team improved to 8-1 this season, defeating New Jersey City University, 4-1, Wednesday afternoon.

Seidel scored three straight for the Cougars (8-1, 3-0 NJAC) while rookie Deanna Columbia rounded out the scoring in the win.  Senior Julianna Natale assisted on the final two goals while senior Kristen Hager and junior Carla Vitola each had a first half assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Blair played the first 73:27 in net, making four saves.  Sophomore Kaitlin King saw her first action of the season over the final 16:33, making one save.

The Cougars had a 12-6 advantage in first half shots and took a 1-0 lead just 7:27 into the action as Hager slipped a thru ball from the midfield circle to Seidel, who spun past an NJCU defender and sprinted to the box on a breakaway, scoring inside the right post.

Early in the 29th minute, Kean was whistled for a foul in the box and Brianna Taylor was awarded a penalty kick, burying her third PK of the season.  But Kean would get the eventual winner at the 39:33 mark as Vitola sent along pass downfield from the right sideline, sending Seidel in on a breakaway for a 2-1 lead.

Leading 2-1 at the half, Kean got an insurance marker at 51:45. Natale dumped a ball deep downfield from the midfield circle. With a burst of speed, Seidel beat two defenders to the ball. Hoffman raced off her line to try to block the shot but Seidel was able to flick a shot from a few yards inside the right endline on a difficult angle, into the bottom far left side netting for a 3-1 margin, to complete the hat trick. The Cougars scored their final goal as Natale made a long side-legged pass downfield and Columbia followed the breakaway into the box, shooting high over a charging Hoffman for the final marker.

Kean hosts Ramapo College on Saturday for their next matchup.