Box Score EUNICE, La. –
Samaris Alvarado (Houston, TX, Klein Forest HS) jump started the LSU Eunice offense with a first half hat trick to help guide the Bengals to a 5-0 shutout of Arkansas-Rich Mountain on Saturday at the Bengals Soccer Complex.
Alvarado's hat trick was the second of the season for the Bengals (4-0-1), joining fellow freshman
Marcela Ramirez's (Conroe, TX, Conroe HS) three-goal outburst at Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 24.
The Bengals struck early and often thanks to Alvarado, scoring her first goal in the 3rd minute. Alvarado took a
Katy Watt (Edinburgh, Scotland, Firrhill HS) pass off of a turnover, finishing with the outside of her right foot to bend it past Bucks goal keeper. The left winger would net against goal just three minutes later in the 6th with a laser just outside the box.
Alvarado would complete the hat trick in the 23rd minute with a high-flying link-up with
Katelyn Knowles' (Lufkin, TX, Lufkin HS) inlet cross. Marcela Ramirez pushed the LSUE advantage to 4-0 at the halftime break with a beautiful 43rd minute long-distance shot.
Annaliese Rowney (Wodonga, Victoria, Australia, Wodonga Senior Secondary) would cap off the scoring with her own long volley in the 67th minute, scoring her first goal of her Bengal career. The Australian also added an assist, connecting with Alvarado for the second goal of the game.
LSUE dominated possession for the majority of the contest, firing 14 shots while only allowing two shots on frame.
Mariah Scott (San Antonio, TX, Legacy of Educational Excellence HS) and
Ariana Alejo (Elgin, TX, Elgin HS) combined for the shutout, each grabbing a save in the victory.
The Bengals enter a critical stretch of the campaign with three straight Region 23 contests, starting Tuesday with Holmes CC. The doubleheader starts with women's action at 5:00PM from the Bengals Soccer Complex. Both games will be live streamed on Bengals All-Access.
