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O'Reilly Boosts Wildcats
Hat Trick Spurs Victory Over Western Mass

With the reputation of her offensive prowess preceding her this season, New Jersey Wildcats forward Heather O’Reilly lived up to the billing tonight as she had a part in every goal as the Wildcats topped the Western Mass Lady Pioneers 4-0 at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, MA. O’Reilly posted the natural hat trick and then assisted the closing goal by Kate Sands.

The Wildcats held a 28-14 advantage in shots but were matched well by Lady Pioneers goalkeeper Megan Jessee who finished with 14 saves. Karina LeBlanc played the first 79 minutes of the game in goal before giving way to Sarah Allen-Knight for the final 11 minutes as the Wildcats extended their season-opening shutout streak to three games and 270 minutes. The Wildcats return to action tomorrow night in their home opener when they host the New Hampshire Lady Phantoms at 7:30 p.m. at Mercer County Community College.

The Wildcats had much of the play in the first half with a 14-5 advantage in shots but struggled to get quality chances. O’Reilly opened the scoring when she earned a penalty kick in the 18th minute. The speedy forward cut in behind the defense into the box and was taken down by Western Mass midfielder Lauren O’Donnell. O’Reilly coolly stepped up to the spot and laid the penalty kick into the upper left corner.

The second half saw three class strikes from the Wildcats starting with O’Reilly in the 66th minute. Lindsay Tarpley’s hard work in the midfield led to a pass to O’Reilly at the top of the box. She took a touch to the middle before unleashing a 20-yard shot that skimmed right inside the right post.

Christine Latham helped O’Reilly complete the hat trick in the 72nd minute. Cat Reddick’s long ball up the right side found Latham in behind and as Jessee charged off her line, she laid an easy pass across to O’Reilly for the tap-in from five yards out.

Sands closed the scoring with a class finish of her own in the 84th minute. The second-half substitute played the ball into the middle for O’Reilly, who held off a defender before playing the ball back to Sands on the right. Sands evaded a defender by letting the ball run across her body before curling a left-footed shot just inside the left post from 15 yards out.