KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan's Gina Maddi netted the first hat trick for the women's soccer team since Sept. 8, 2006 against Northern Iowa as the Broncos downed Akron, 4-0 at the WMU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Maddi's three goals ties the program record for goals in a game. Thalia Playford was the last player to do so against Northern Iowa. Maddi's hat trick was only the fifth in program history. WMU also picked up a goal from Tiffany Buckler, while Stephanie Heber made three saves to earn the shutout.
Western Michigan struck very early in the first half. The Broncos had four corner kicks in the first five minutes and in the ninth minute got another one. Maddi swung the ball in and it was fumbled by Akron's Annabelle Hegeman and rolled into the net to give WMU a 1-0 lead. The unassisted goal was the second of the season for the Naperville, Ill., native.
Maddi struck again 10 minutes later at 18:13 after some great passing by Irene Young and Alyssa Burke got Maddi the ball inside the box. Young played it to Burke at the top-right corner of the box and Burke played Maddi in. The senior forward switched the ball to her favored left leg and slotted it into the far-left corner of the net to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead.
Western Michigan continued to dominate possession in the first half, firing a total of 10 shots and 11 corner kicks in the first 45 minutes. Bucker put the game out of reach at 83:47 in the second half when Heather Picarrello played her the ball into the middle of the box and she put it just under the bar and into the net for her third goal of the season.
Maddi added her third and final goal of the game at 85:11 when she pounced on a loose ball and fired a shot that squeaked through Hegeman's legs and into the net.
The Broncos outshot the Zips 18-4 overall and had a 9-3 advantage on shots on goal.
Western Michigan wraps up its final weekend of games for the regular season next weekend. WMU hosts Miami on Friday at 4 p.m. and then MAC West leaders Ball State on Sunday at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
