Atkinson's second career hat trick leads Women's Soccer to 3-1 victory at Wittenberg Wednesday evening

By: Tim Glon

SPRINGFIELD — Sophomore Sami Atkinson had her second career hat trick Wednesday night, leading the Ohio Northern women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory at Wittenberg at Edwards-Maurer Stadium.

The Polar Bears improve to 3-1-1 with the win, while the Tigers fall to 3-3-0 with the loss.

Senior Alyssa Merrick assisted on the first goal and sophomore Abbie Schauble assisted on the second, as ONU led 2-0 after 48 minutes of action.

After Wittenberg pulled within 2-1 in the 63rd minute, Merrick again assisted Atkinson on her third goal, restoring Northern's two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute.

Atkinson's goals were her first three of the season after leading ONU with 11 goals and one hat trick as a freshman in 2010.

"This was an outstanding team victory tonight," ONU head coach Mark Batman said. "This was the first time we have won at Wittenberg in many years, so this was nice. Sami has been pressing a bit because she did not score in any of our first four matches and I told her during warmups to relax and get a goal tonight. We got her the ball in space and she had a big night."

Atkinson's first goal came just just 7:36 into the match when Schauble fed her a through ball about 30 yards out and Atkinson beat the keeper for a 1-0 lead.

The second goal of the night was nearly a mirror image of the first and happened just 2:21 into the second half.

Kailey Streibel knocked in a loose ball with 27:34 left in the match to pull the Tigers within 2-1, but  Atkinson's third marker with 17:32 left proved to be the final score of the match.

ONU out-shot WU 13-10 and junior Erin Waehner had one save in goal to earn the victory.

The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday at home against Thomas More (Ky.) at 1 p.m. at the ONU Soccer Field.