Central Michigan University
Mount St. Mary's
Historic Day For Pelafas; Chippewas Win, 4-2
9/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Scoring is essential for any sport. For Lexi Pelafas, she scored enough on Saturday to record her first career hat trick and tie Central Michigan's record for career goals.
And she's only a junior.
The Chippewa women's soccer team celebrated Senior Day at the CMU Soccer-Lacrosse Complex with a 4-2 win over Mount St. Mary's in their final nonconference game.
"We've learned a little bit about who we are and we understand what our identity is," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "We've played quality opponents, hats off to (coach) Joe (Nemzer) and Mount St. Mary's today - they gave us all we can handle on Senior Day."
The Chippewas (5-2-1), who have won five of their last six, will hit the road for the Mid-American Conference-opening weekend at Kent State (4-3-1) on Friday, Sept. 22 (4 p.m.) and at Ohio (3-5) on Sunday, Sept. 24 (1 p.m.).
"We're moving into what we call our second season, the MAC regular season, with a good bit of momentum and confidence," McGahey said.
CMU scored the first two goals just six minutes into the match, one of which was a on a penalty kick by Pelafas. The junior forward scored two more on the day, upping her career total to 26.
She is tied with Stephanie Martin as CMU's all-time goals leader. Martin played at CMU from 2006-09.
"I'm humbled by it," said Pelafas, who hails from Wheaton, Ill. "It's an honor. My teammates are setting me up for it, I'm just finishing the goals and doing my job."
Pelafas' hat trick was the fourth in program history and the first since Molly Gerst accomplished the feat against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 29, 2009. It was another chapter in what is unfolding as an outstanding collegiate career for Pelafas, who scored a program-record 16 goals in 2016 and finished ninth nationally in that category.
The Chippewas kept the pressure on all day, finishing with an 11-0 edge in corner kicks and a 17-5 advantage in shots.
Savannah Beetcher, a senior from Boulder, Colo., scored her first career goal for the Chippewas. It was unassisted and it came at the 3-minute, 11-second mark, staking CMU to the early lead.
Lauren Sherry and Mary Carlson each had an assist for CMU. Chippewa goalkeeper Zoie Reed tallied two saves.
Jenna West and Jaylyn Chandler each scored for Mount St. Mary's while Charlotte Elrod had six saves in goal.
