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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

UNK Soccer
Corbey R. Dorsey
4
Winner Emporia State EState (2-4-1, 0-0-0)
1
Neb.-Kearney UNKE (0-6-1, 0-0-0)
Winner
Emporia State EState
(2-4-1, 0-0-0)
4
Final
1
Neb.-Kearney UNKE
(0-6-1, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Emporia State EState 1 3 4
Neb.-Kearney UNKE 1 0 1

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Washburn

9/18/2022 | 1 p.m.

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Sep. 18 (Sun) / 1 p.m.
 Washburn
History

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Hornets Get Hat Trick from an All-American

Kearney, Neb. – Senior Mackenzie Dimarco recorded a hat trick in the second half to help Emporia State down Nebraska Kearney, 4-1, Friday night at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

The Hornets, ranked 14th in the 2022 national preseason polls and a 2021 NCAA Tournament team, improves to 2-4-1 while the Lopers fall to 0-6-1. This was a non-MIAA game with the rematch set for late October in Kansas.

A 2021 All-American who now has 43 goals in 50 career games (not counting the 2021 "COVID" spring season), Dimarco tallied goals in the 50th, 59th and 71st minutes. The first was a breakaway after she ran down a long ball, the next came in the box and the third was a free penalty kick after a handball. In five career games against UNK, Dimarco has nine goals and two hat tricks. 

"She's a heck of a player, she's a finisher, she's clinical, she makes timed runs and they know how to utilize her well," said UNK head coach Rob Breton.

UNK grabbed its first lead of the season when Springfield freshman Emma Middleton took a pass from Lincoln senior Isabella Whiston and scored her first collegiate goal at 13:56. Middleton is the team leader in shots (11) but hadn't found pay dirt until tonight.

"We had some great moments. We started to recognize cues … a lot of the film we watched yesterday really showed in the game. We saw those exact moments of 'hey they are going to do this and here's the shift.' We designed patterns to work and they did," said Breton. "We got a great pass to Emma, she had a brilliant turn on the defender, sold her and the finish was phenomenal. Right foot, up and over the goalie on the side. That's not an easy finish."

The Hornets countered less than a minute later when senior Hannah Woolery took a pass from senior Alexis Cole and tallied her fourth goal of the fall. The two teams then remained tied for the next 35 minutes.

"You see the moments and the progression but as a team one of the areas we've got to grown in is learning what it's like to have a lead and how to control the game," said Breton.

Besides Middleton, New Jersey sophomore Angelina Iocca and Wyoming senior Raegan Downham had shots for the Lopers with a couple of more offensive chances not panning out. In goal, Lincoln sophomore Mackenzie Smith recorded five saves. She and the defense fought off 14 corners and 16 shots.

"It's not like the (offensive) opportunities weren't there. We understood the game plan and applied it," said Breton. "The problem was with the second goal, the third goal. The team unknowingly reverted to old traits and it took us 10, 15 minutes to snap out of it."

UNK hosts Washburn (5-1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. to start league play.
 
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Players Mentioned

Raegan Downham

#3 Raegan Downham

D
5' 10"
Senior
Cheyenne Sting
Angelina Iocca

#32 Angelina Iocca

D
5' 6"
Sophomore
NJ Premier FC
Isabella Whiston

#12 Isabella Whiston

D
5' 3"
Senior
Omaha Elite GA
Emma Middleton

#9 Emma Middleton

F
5' 6"
Freshman
Omaha United
Mackenzie Smith

#00 Mackenzie Smith

GK
5' 6"
Sophomore
Gretna SC

Players Mentioned

Raegan Downham

#3 Raegan Downham

5' 10"
Senior
Cheyenne Sting
D
Angelina Iocca

#32 Angelina Iocca

5' 6"
Sophomore
NJ Premier FC
D
Isabella Whiston

#12 Isabella Whiston

5' 3"
Senior
Omaha Elite GA
D
Emma Middleton

#9 Emma Middleton

5' 6"
Freshman
Omaha United
F
Mackenzie Smith

#00 Mackenzie Smith

5' 6"
Sophomore
Gretna SC
GK