PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College women's soccer team dominated Purchase College in every aspect of the game today, Saturday, Sept. 28, as the Valiants defeated the Panthers 7-2 to pick up their second Skyline Conference victory in as many games. Six of the seven goals came evenly from freshman Natalie Aracena (Bronx, N.Y./Riverdale Kingsbride Academy) and junior Ashley Pacheco (Throggs Neck, N.Y./Pelham Prep). It's the first hat-trick of Pacheco's career and second of Aracena's -- she's now had two straight.
 
The Crimson and White (4-4, 2-0 Skyline) have won four of their last five matches, including their last two, to get back to .500 on the year, while the Panthers (4-3, 1-2 Skyline) drop their third game in their last four. Rebecca Colgan of Purchase got the scoring started, beating the keeper on a breakaway in the 21st minute to go ahead 1-0.
 
Aracena took the game over for the remainder of the half, though, as the rookie scored three in the final 12 minutes. She began thanks to a nice look from sophomore Ashley Hayes (Springfield, Ore./Thurston), who sprang Aracena open. The rookie made a couple moves and ripped a shot from outside the top left of the box in the 34th minute. Hayes once again sprang Aracena free as the freshman ripped another ball from outside the top of the box to beat the Panthers' keeper for her second of the game to make it 2-1 in the 42nd minute. Just over three minutes later, senior Bella Beltrami (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) possessed the ball across midfield and found an open Aracna, who pushed it into the Purchase net from inside the box for her third of the game and eighth of the season to make it 3-1 in the 45th.
 
The second half belonged to Pacheco, who finished with her own hat-trick. She began in the 48th minute thanks to a nice attempt from – who else – Aracena. The rookie nailed a shot off the crossbar and Pacheco jumped all over the rebound for her first. Several minutes later in the 53rd, sophomore Amaya Gonzalez (Buena Park, Calif./Western) found Pacheco open outside the box, and the junior notched her second of the game. She closed out her scoring in the 68th following a long cross from Hayes from the right side, which Pacheco was able to tap in by the far left post for her third of the game and fifth of the year.
 
Hayes finished with three assists on the day, while rookie Izzy Rosa (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) scored the seventh goal of the game. Tick-tack-toe passing from senior Samira Davis (Stockholm, Sweden/Kungsholmens Gymnasium) and Gonzalez set Rosa up for her inside-the-box shot and score in the 88th minute.
 
The squad will return to action Monday evening, Sept. 30, when it travels a bit north for a non-conference road match at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Conn. The Valiants will be looking for their first-ever win over the Colonials.