HUNTSVILLE ? Sophomore forward Luana Miessa scored a hat trick to lead Sam Houston State to a 5-0 non-conference victory over Prairie View A&M, the first win of the 2008 season for the Bearkats and the first under new head coach Tom Brown.
Miessa struck quickly, scoring her first two goals in just over a minute on passes from Britney Martin at 5:09 and Jenny Pence at 6:19. The first goal came on a give and go play. The second when Pence, the Kat goalkeeper, boomed a long punt to midfield that bounced at Miessa's feet. She broke free and lofted her shot over the goalkeeper's head to put SHSU up 2-0.
Alison Oakland scored on a header in the 40th minute off a cross from Kate Wesneski. A minute later Miessa completed her hat trick scoring on a pass from Oakland.
The hat trick was the 12th in the six-year history of Sam Houston State's women's soccer program and was Miessa's first as a Bearkat.
“Obviously, Luana did a good job for us,” Brown said. “This match was a good opportunity to get all our players some playing time. With the weather situation this week, we don't know what's going to happen with our practices. It was good to give the younger players a taste.”
Nereyda Garcia added the final goal 14 minutes into the second half, also on a ball from Oakland.
Sam Houston State put five shots off the Prairie View cross bar and forced Panther goalkeeper Jessie Garcia to make 10 saves.
“We started strong, but it is difficult when you control the match as much as we did today,” Brown said. “If we want to win, the girls need to play correctly no matter what the situation.”
Sam Houston State out shot Prairie View 40 to four. Miessa led the team with 11 shots. Besides her three goals, two of her attempts hit the cross bar and another was saved.
The victory gives Sam Houston State a 1-2 record for the season. The Bearkats will play host to Colorado State-Pueblo Friday at 7 p.m. at Pritchett Field.
