Pidgeon's hat trick leads Chapman over Caltech

ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Riley Pidgeon scored her first career hat trick in leading the Chapman University women's soccer team to a 5-0 defeat of Caltech on Wednesday. Chapman allowed just two shots from Caltech to move to 5-2-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the SCIAC.

Pidgeon is the first Chapman player to score a hat trick since teammate Anna Montemor did it in 2019 against the same Beavers. She is the third player to score three goals in a match in the last five years.

Montemor scored her first goal of the season less than four minutes into the match. After dribbling down the sideline, she cut in toward the goal and banked in a shot off the back post for a 1-0 lead. Pidgeon had a chance moments later to make it 2-0 but Caltech keeper Eve Fine made a sliding save to keep her team within one.

Pidgeon's won the battle in the 38th minute when she was able to beat her defender and push it past Fine for a 2-0 Chapman lead, which the Panthers took into halftime.

Pidgeon added a penalty kick goal in the 85th minute and her third in the 89th minute, winning a foot race to a ball played into the box. Freshman Emily Stocker scored her first career goal in the 66th minute to open the scoring in the second half.

Chapman's defenders allowed just two shots with neither finding their way on target. Fine made 10 saves for Caltech.

The Panthers head to Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday and return to Wilson Field to take on Redlands at 4 p.m. on Oct. 13.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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