Karen Thomas's Hat Trick Lifts Women's Soccer to 3-2 Triumph at FDU-Florham

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Junior Karen Thomas (Mullica Hill, NJ) recorded a natural hat trick in the first half and Widener held on in the second for a 3-2 victory at FDU-Florham in Madison, NJ.

Thomas scored an unassisted marker in the 27th minute to give the Pride a 1-0 lead. In the 38th minute, the margin grew to 2-0 as Thomas found the back of the net off a pass from sophomore Jenna Pedrick (Sicklerville, NJ).

Thomas then gave Widener (3-3-1) what proved to be much-needed insurance, scoring with 22 seconds left in the half for a 3-0 cushion. She became the 14th player in school history to net three goals and the first since present assistant coach Brittany Balentine did it October 14, 2009 against Alvernia.

Thomas has five goals and 11 points over her last two matches.

The Pride were victims of a 10-2 shots disadvantage in the second half as Claire Donohue scored in the 66th minute and Kim Overland tallied in the 73rd minute for the Devils. But senior goalkeeper Vanessa Hejnas (Delran, NJ) stood tall with six saves in the half as part of her 11 total.

Donohue took five shots and Anna Bandly made six saves for FDU-Florham (1-7).

Widener returns to the pitch Thursday against Franklin & Marshall, starting at 7:00 pm at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

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