Kirby Zak's hat trick helps soccer win 4-2

Friday, October 30

Huntsville

7 p.m.

8-8-2SLC 5-3

Central Arkansas

7-10-1SLC 1-7

Central Arkansas

Sam Houston State

Kirby Zak's hat trick helps soccer win 4-2

10/30/2009 10:00:00 PM | Soccer

Box Score Box score, play by play

By: GoBearkats.com

Kirby Zak scored three goals in the first 19 minutes of the first half for her second hat trick of the 2009 season as Sam Houston State defeated Central Arkansas 4-2 on a muddy field at Pritchett Field Friday night.

The victory gives the Bearkats' a 5-3 Southland Conference record, the most league wins in one season in the seven-year history of the program. The win also clinched a Southland post-season tournament berth for Sam Houston, the Kats' third playoff trip ever.

Sam Houston qualified for the Southland tournament in 2005 and 2007. The Bearkats reached the tournament finals in 2005 and lost in the first round in 2007. This year's Southland Conference tournament begins Thursday Oct. 5. The event will be held in Natchitoches, LA.

Zak's goals came in a 15-minute span in the first half. Her first goal was an unassisted 26-yard shot that lofted over goalkeeper Kirby Huffstickler's head into the net 3:18 into the contest. Zak's second goal came on passes from Leah Snelson and Shelby Grissett at the 17:24 mark. Just over a minute later, a combination of passes from Emily Jurecka and Lindsey Posner found Zak open again for a goal at 18:38.

The hat trick was the second this season for Zak and the 17th in Bearkat soccer history. It is only the third hat trick against a Southland Conference opponent.

Randi Condley scored both goals for the Sugar Bears. She tied the game 1-1 on a pass from Cori Kaplinger at the 15:23 mark. A pass from Kari Mars set up her second goal at 22:43 to cut the Kat margin to 3-2.

Zak assisted on Sam Houston's fourth goal with 5:43 seconds to play, finding Shelby Grissett open for an insurance score.

Sam Houston State will wrap up the 2009 regular season with a 1 p.m. match Sunday afternoon against Northwestern State at Pritchett Field.

Admission to Sam Houston women's soccer at Pritchett Field is free. Sunday is "Toys for Tots" Day at Pritchett Field and fans are urged to bring a unwrapped new toy as a donation.

To order tickets to all Bearkat home sports events go to www.gobearkats.com or contact the Sam Houston Athletic Ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.