WICHITA, Kan. – Johnson County Community College sophomore forward Samantha Pond delivered a hat trick on the biggest stage, powering the top-seeded Cavaliers to a 6-0 victory over the University of Arkansas Cossatot in the opening match pool play at the NJCAA Division II Tournament.
Pond scored twice unassisted, then completed her hat trick in the 71st minute off a feed from sophomore forward Jill Lenherr, It marks JCCC's first hat trick of the season and the program's first ever in national tournament play.
Johnson County opened the match with immediate pressure. Sophomore forward Riggs Kuhn put JCCC on the board just 2:52 into the contest, and. Lenherr doubled the lead in the eighth minute on an assist from sophomore midfielder Lily Marshall.
Pond followed with goals in the 14th and 16h minutes to give JCCC a commanding 4-0 halftime advantage.
Freshman midfielder Jade Smallwood caped the scoring in the 75th minute with her sixth goal of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Avery Young stopped both shots she faced to improve to 19-0-1, tying a school record for single-season wins. The clean sheet was her ninth of the year.
Johnson County concludes pool play on Tuesday, November 18 against No. 8 seed Jones College. A victory would send the Cavalier to the national semifinals.