4-1 Wildcats
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. –Justina L’Esperance had a career day, scoring a hat trick with an assist for seven points in today’s 4-1 win over Ferris State.
This marks Justina’s first career hat trick and highest single-point total in a game, surpassing her previous record of four (9/26/2021 and 10/4/24). L’Esperance brings her season totals to nine goals and six assists for 25 points in 12 games.
“We knew what we had to do going in,” commented L’Esperance after the match. “Everyone showed up and we had a great team win.”
Brooke Pietila scored her sixth goal of the season, bringing her point total to 16 on the season.
A truly dominant performance, the Wildcats out shot the Bulldogs 21-9 with 10 on target to two, including six corners to three.
“Really proud of the effort from the entire group,” commented Jon Sandoval after the game. “I felt like there was a real sense of belief today, as was evident by the choices they made and work they put in on the field. Justina scored some great goals today, but she would also be the first to tell you that her teammates did a great job at putting her in good situations to be succesful.”
The ‘Cats extend its unbeaten streak to six and move to 6-1-1 in the conference and 8-2-2 overall, maintaining its top position in the GLIAC with 19 points.
Cat Nips
- Justina L’Esperance extends her point streak to four games (6-4–16)
- This marks the first Wildcat hat-trick since Molly Pistorius recorded three against Lewis on 9/8/2023
- Brooke Pietila extends her point streak to four games and has 13 points in her last seven contests (5-3–13)
- Hannah Kastamo’s assist brings her season point totals to nine (4-1–9)
- Caitlyn Trombley recorded an assist, giving her points in back-to-back contests
- Alyse Daavettila recorded her first assist of the season, coming off the bench and contributing
- Maria Storm was the only other Wildcat aside from Sally Patton to play the full 90. Pietila (87) and Irene Kiilunen (81) were next
- The Wildcats are now undefeated in seven straight vs the Bulldogs, with the ‘Cats last loss to Ferris coming on 10/15/2021 in Big Rapids.
How It Happened
It was L’Esperance and the Wildcats who struck first, as Molly Pistorius made a run into the right side of the box. Molly made a nice through ball to Justina from just outside the keepers’ box, whose initial shot was blocked. After being knocked onto her back, Justina found her own rebound and beat the keeper from the ground.
It took just five minutes for L’Esperance to collect her second goal of the evening. A long pass landed on the foot of Daavettila, who found herself in a similar position as Pistorius in the first goal. Alyse made a pass into Justina, who was also in a similar spot as the first, but this time was able to volley the pass past the keeper and into the net.
The ‘Cats netted its third of the evening, off the foot of Pietila. L’Esperance added another point to her evening as she made a convincing run down the left side of the pitch towards the box. Justina made a nice double move to beat her defender before making a perfect pass to Pietila, who snuck into the box without detection. Brooke had enough time to gather with the right foot before convincingly finding the lower left corner of the net.
L’Esperance completed the hat-trick after finishing a cross from Trombley. With the ball coming through the air behind her, Justina had to turn her body around before taking a half-bicycle kick that sailed over the outstretched hand of the keeper.
The Bulldogs would spoil the Wildcats’ clean sheet, scoring a goal with nine seconds left.
Up Next
The ‘Cats conclude its weekend trip downstate with a Sunday match against Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
