Simien's Hat Trick Leads Texas Lutheran to 9-1 Victory Against Ozarks (AR)

CLARKSVILLE, AR -- Senior Alyssa Simien (San Antonio/Warren) recorded the 27th hat trick in program history as Texas Lutheran defeated University of the Ozarks (AR) by a score of 9-1 Friday night at Wilson Athletic Complex in Clarksville, Arkansas. Simien's hat trick is the first by a Texas Lutheran player since her last one against Austin College in 2022. Six different players scored goals, most notably freshman Noelani Ajel (Cibolo/Steele) and sophomore Tila Hendrus (New Braunfels/Canyon) who scored their first collegiate goals, and six players tallied an assist for the Bulldogs on Friday.

Texas Lutheran (9-5-1, 5-2 SCAC) did not waste any time Friday night as Simien gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage just 2:48 into the match. The goal is Simien's third in her career to come within the first three minutes of a match. The Eagles tied the game 1-all in the seventh minute before freshman Noelani Ajel (Cibolo/Steele) would begin the Bulldogs offensive onslaught.

Ajel would give TLU a 2-1 lead in the 22nd minute before Simien would find the net for her second goal of the night three minutes later via an assist from Callie Brame (San Antonio/Churchill).

In the 35th minute, Texas Lutheran was able to extend its lead to 4-1 as Ella Alvarado (Driftwood/Johnson) was in the right place at the right time following an Ozarks save to net her first goal as a Bulldog. Alvarado would add to her point total right before the conclusion of the first half as she found Ashlyn Suarez (Schertz/Clemens) for a 44th minute goal to give TLU a 5-1 lead through the first 45. The five goals are the most in a half since TLU scored six goals in a half against Centenary in 2013.

The Bulldogs continued the bludgeoning in the second half as Callie Brame would extend the TLU lead to 6-1 via an assist from Simien just over a minute into the second half. Alyssa Simien would cap her career night by completing her hat trick in the 52nd minute by tapping in a pass from Bailey Havens (Friendswood/Friendswood). The seven point match from Simien is tied for the fourth most in program history and is the most since Sioned Kirkpatrick's seven point match against LeTourneau in 2013. Callie Brame would record her second career brace following a 55th minute goal that came via an assist from Tila Hendrus. Hendrus, who missed her entire freshman season due to a knee injury, would score her first collegiate goal two minutes later courtesy of an assist from Klarissa Martinez (Houston/Incarnate Word Academy) to bring the game to its final score.

All active TLU players saw action on Friday.

The Bulldogs outshot the Eagles 24-7 and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. Charleigh Phipps (Dripping Springs/Dripping Springs) and Skylar LeBlanc (League City/Clear Falls) combined for 45 shutout minutes in the second half while Alysa Marquez (Miami,FL/Dr. Michael Krop) picked up the win, her ninth of the season. The nine wins tie Marquez for the fifth most in a single-season in program history.

Up next, TLU returns home to start a three-game homestand to close the regular season beginning with a matchup with Centenary on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 12 PM. Sunday will act as Senior Day for the Bulldogs as they honor their three seniors: Alyssa Simien, Bailey Havens, and Charleigh Phipps. The match will be streamed on TLU+. All streaming and live stats links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.

For all updates on Texas Lutheran Women's Soccer, follow @tluwsoc on Twitter and Instagram and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).