PITTSBURGH–Cara Senger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) registered a hat trick as the University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team claimed a 4-0 win against cross-town rival Robert Morris University Wednesday evening at Founders Field.  The Panthers improve to 5-7-2(1-1-1 Big East), while the Colonials fall to 2-12-0.

Jennifer DeLaHoz (Amawalk, N.Y./Somers) got the Panthers on the board early with a goal at the 27:08 mark.  Corina Sebesta (Catasauqua, Pa. /Catasauqua) took the ball down the right side of the field, and then passed the ball to DeLaHoz, who scored from 5-yards out.  This was DeLaHoz’s fourth goal of the season and Sebesta’s second career point.

Senger’s scoring streak began as she drove the ball from mid-field, one-on-one with a Colonials defender, and booted the ball past goalkeeper Shana Berardi for the unassisted goal in the 39^th minute. 

Senger, in the midst of a pack of Panthers and Colonials, took a shot pass from Jacqueline Reuter (Chalfont, Pa. /Central Bucks West) for her second goal of the game at the 55:20 mark. 

Senger’s final score came the 70^th minute when Erin Hills (Burke, Va./James A. Robinson Secondary) fed the ball to Senger for the shot. Senger’s shot bounced off of a Colonials defender, back to Senger, who took the shot to seal the win for the Panthers.  Senger is the Panthers’ leading goal scorer.

Pittsburgh out shot the Colonials 31-3, a record high for the Panthers. Pittsburgh goalkeeper Jamie Pelusi (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Hampton) registered her fifth career shutout and third of the season.

The Panthers are next in action Sunday when they play their final home game of the 2003 season against No. 2 Notre Dame at Founders Field.  Game time is set for 1 p.m. Sunday is senior recognition day.

 GOALS BY PERIOD

 1              2              T

 -------------------------------

 Robert Morris.......  0           0                0

 Pittsburgh..........  2              2               4

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  27:08 UP DELAHOZ, Jennifer (SEBESTA, Corina) - 5-yard shot, right side

  2.  37:03 UP SENGER, Cara (unassisted) - fast break shot

  3.  55:20 UP SENGER, Cara (REUTER, Jacqueline) - shot from 1-yard out

  4.  69:39 UP SENGER, Cara (HILLS, Erin) - 5-yard out

 Shots: Robert Morris 3, Pittsburgh 31

 Saves: Robert Morris 5 (Kroetsch, Dana 4; Berardi, Shana 2),

 Pittsburgh 2 (PELUSI, Jamie 2)

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