Ziegler’s Hat Trick Fuels Homecoming Win

Senior forward Jacoby Zeigler had a hat trick as the Yellow Jackets thrashed Rio Grande, 5-0, during Cedarville’s homecoming weekend Oct. 3.

Cedarville started the game well and had many chances to score in the first few minutes. Zeigler began scoring for the Yellow Jackets in the 10th minute with a left-footed shot into the far corner of the goal. Then, with 24 minutes to go in the first half, senior forward Kaitlyn Styles scored on a penalty kick away to put the Jackets up, 2-0. The Jackets outplayed Rio Grande for the remainder of the half, out-shooting them 14-2.

Rio Grande had a little more fire in the second half, calling Cedarville goalkeeper Hanna Harris, a junior, into action with a free kick just outside the box, but Harris easily saved the shot. That was the closest Rio Grande came to scoring in the second half.

The Jackets slowly regained the momentum they had in the first half, and with 30 minutes left in the game, Zeigler capitalized on a defensive error and scored on a breakaway, increasing the Jackets’ lead to 3-0. Shortly after, junior forward Olivia Moore made it 4-0 with a curling shot from outside the box.

With 22 minutes to go in the game, Zeigler completed her hat trick with another breakaway goal, increasing her season tally to an impressive 12 goals in 10 games. Zeigler, with 52 career goals, needs only two more goals to become the Lady Jacket’s all-time leading scorer.

The Lady Jackets (6-2-2) play at Salem International 3 p.m. Oct. 6.

Colin Dellaperute is a freshman athletic training major and a sports reporter for Cedars. His hobbies are playing pick up soccer, playing guitar, writing for fun and watching his NY Jets ruin their season time and time again.