Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
New Mexico
Sobrero's Hat Trick Leads Bulldogs To 4-2 Win
9/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2004
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Sophomore forward Cortney Sobrero (Las Vegas, Nev.) recorded Fresno State's first hat trick in four years to help lead the Bulldogs to a 4-2 victory over New Mexico on Sunday afternoon.
Sobrero, Fresno State's leading goal-scorer with seven in five games played, joined former Bulldog standouts Jill Pearson and Cheryl Gano as the only players to score three goals in a single game. Pearson, who scored four times against Weber State on Sept. 17, 2000 for the most recent hat trick, and Gano each accomplished the feat three times during their careers.
"This was just a total team effort," said head coach Steve Springthorpe. "Everyone contributed and Cortney did an excellent job of finishing her chances. I thought we fed the ball well to our forwards and our defense did a decent job. I was also real pleased with how our team responded on the road."
Sobrero's three-goal effort is symbolic of Fresno State's offensive turnaround, as the Bulldogs have now scored 11 goals over the past three games. In the first three games of the year, the Bulldogs could only produce two goals.
New Mexico (3-4-0) outshot Fresno State (2-3-1) by a 14-10 count on the afternoon, but the Bulldogs made the most of their opportunities. Fresno State tallied five shots on goal, four of which resulted in scores.
Leading the charge was Sobrero, who entered the season with just three career goals. Against the Lobos, she scored twice in the first half with senior Heather Young (Morgan Hill, Calif.) assisting on both goals.
"I only took three shots overall so I was just in the right place at the right time today," said Sobrero. "My teammates did a great job of setting me up and sending balls over the top of the defense."
Sobrero's second goal gave Fresno State a 2-1 lead after New Mexico's Brittany Emerson evened the game at 1-1 just four minutes before. Her first goal of the day came in the opening minute.
Junior Barbara Davis (Fresno, Calif.) scored her first goal of the season just before halftime, putting home a one-time chance following an assist from freshman Andrea Alires (Albuquerque, N.M.).
New Mexico held a 10-4 edge in shot attempts during the second half but could only manage a goal from Coco D'Angelo in the 79th minute. Sobrero gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 cushion at the 77:21 mark, scoring off a header following an assist from senior Regina Esparza (Clovis, Calif.).
Sophomore goalkeeper Jeannette Paine (Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) played the entire game, making two saves.
Sophomore Rochelle Jagdeo (Vacaville, Calif.) made her first start of the year at defender, giving Springthorpe yet another option in the lineup. After playing the first few games without the services of several key players due to injury, the Bulldogs now have increased depth at a number of positions.
Fresno State's next game takes place Wednesday, Sept. 22, as the Bulldogs host Pacific at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.
