by Robert Youngs, Jr.
Needing to keep pace with the rest of the MIAA, the Kalamazoo College women's soccer team took care of business on Thursday, defeating visiting Albion, 10-0.
Senior forward Jackie Short had a hat trick in the contest, scoring four goals total for K.
The win was the first for the Hornet women since a 2-1 triumph over then-No. 24 Alma at home on Sept. 27.
Short struck first for the Hornets, scoring in the third minute on a C.J. McCarthy assist. In the next minute, it was McCarthy firing a goal on an assist from Maya Smolcic.
Alex Groffsky was the next Hornet to score, tallying her first goal of the season in the sixth minute. Short scored again in the seventh minute on an assist from Michelle Bustamante.
Leading 4-0, K began to push some substitutes into the match and they found their fair share of chances. The Hornets had valid scoring opportunities in the 27th, 33rd, 39th and 42nd minutes, but the strikes were not true enough.
After the break, Stephanie Verbeek scored in the 48th minute on an assist from Dandar. Short scored twice more in the 50th and 51st minutes before being substituted for in the 52nd minute.
Before Short left the match, however, she assisted teammate McCarthy on a goal. Short's 13-point night gave her 36 on the season, well ahead of Alma's Sam Barker and Adrian's Erin Weide.
Bjargey Olafsson scored twice, in the 74th and 80th minutes, and teammate Erin Gray launched one into the net in the 76th minute to end the scoring for the evening.
Rachel Dandar and Jordan Lewis each had an assist in the win for the Hornets. Short, Jenna Sexton, Verbeek, Bustamante, McCarthy and Smolcic each had one assist.
Short put six of six shots on net, McCarthy put four of six on target, and five others each put two of two on net. K, as a team, put 23 of 35 on frame.
Keeper Lucy Mailing only needed to make two saves in the contest, as the Britons only sustained four probable offensive attacks. The Hornets won three corner kicks and no cards were handed out to either side.
Kalamazoo returns to the road for its next three contests: Oct. 13 at Adrian, Oct. 17 at Trine and Oct. 20 at Alma. The next home game for the Hornet women is Oct. 23 against Olivet.