Gilmore's Hat Trick Propels SBVC Past LA Harbor

Gilmore's Hat Trick Propels SBVC Past LA Harbor

Kicking off less than 24 hours after an impressive 5-1 victory Monday night, you would have been right to expect the San Bernardino Valley College women's soccer team to start off Tuesday's game against Los Angeles Harbor College a little sluggish.

Harbor took the game's first two shots - a pair of harmless shots from distance that goalkeeper Isabella Ortiz easily handled - and seemed to be ready to run the Wolverines a little ragged.

But SBVC got an early goal from Makenzie Gilmore, en route to a hat trick, as the Wolverines beat the Seahawks 3-0 on the soccer field.

In the 10th minute, Maraena Munoz lifted the ball over the center of the Seahawks' defense, which Makenzie Gilmore tracked down. One-on-one with starting goalkeeper Ariadna Flores near the top of the penalty area, Gilmore made a move to her left, got around Flores and put the ball into the net before Harbor's defenders could track her down.

That early goal energized the Wolverines, who picked up their pace somewhat as the game progressed. The defense continued to keep Harbor at a distance, allowing the Seahawks to shoot from distance, allowing Ortiz to finish the first half with six saves. 

Meanwhile, Gilmore notched her second of the game in the 33rd minute with a great individual effort. She stripped the ball from a LA Harbor defender and took a couple of steps toward goal and fired it into the net to give SBVC a 2-0 lead after 45.

Goalkeeper Haley Weghorst came on in the second half, facing only seven shots, but making the game's best save to keep the clean sheet. In the 51st minute, Harbor's Yamna Areola lifted a ball from about 30 yards out toward the back post. Weghorst backpedaled, jumped and knocked the ball off the crossbar and out for a corner kick.

Gilmore finished her hat trick at the death in extra time. After a free kick, the ball bounced around the Harbor penalty box, and Nicole Estevez pushed the ball into the middle for Gilmore to put into the net.