Usta Tallies a Hat Trick as Women's Soccer Outlasts Fisher, 4-3

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Cansu Usta (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) continued the blistering start to her freshman season, netting her third hat trick in four games, as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's soccer team defeated Fisher College (Mass.), 4-3, on Wednesday night at Aviator Field.

Usta increases her point total to 30, including a team-high 13 goals for the Lady Bears (4-0), who continue their best start in their three-year history. Senior Daniela Semilia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) scored the game-winning goal and had an assist, while junior Shannon Fahy (Breezy Point, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) contributed an assist to the winning effort.

Freshman forward Julia Shojan led a valiant effort for the Falcons (3-4) with a hat trick, notching all three goals for the visitors.

St. Joseph's got on the board first at 19:32, when Usta booted one past Fisher goalie Paige Ciarvarro. Two minutes before halftime, she blocked a clear attempt and poked a shot over Ciarvarro and put the Lady Bears up 2-0 at the break. 

Schojan rallied Fisher back in the second half, using her speed to her advantage and the Lady Bears playing a woman down since the end of the first half due to injury. Schojan broke free and scored her first goal ten minutes into the second half, cutting the deficit to one, 2-1.

But the Lady Bears took a 3-1 lead in the 64th minute, when Semilia slid a tremendous pass across the box to a running Usta who had a wide open net to shoot at for her hat trick.

Schojan cut the deficit again to one for the Falcons with a close-range shot that was deflected by Lady Bears goalie Nicole Farinella (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) but slipped into the net.

St. Joseph's took another two-goal lead in the 69th minute on a beautiful solo effort from Semilia stealing the ball from the defense, turning to her left and firing a left-footed shot into the side netting for the game-winner.

The Falcons fought until the final whistle and never let the game feel out of reach. Schojan tucked her third goal just under the crossbar in the 87th minute, but the Falcons would run out of time.

Farinella finished with five saves in picking up her fourth win of the season in net.

Up next for the Lady Bears is a non-conference road game against Maritime College on Tuesday, September 23 starting at 7 p.m.