Final Stats

LA Tech vs. Southern box

LA Tech season stats

RUSTON ÃÆ'¢Ã¢'¬" True freshman Kaitlyn Cunningham had a breakout performance on Friday night, netting a hat trick to help propel Louisiana Tech to a 5-0 shutout victory over Southern in front of a packed Lady Techster Soccer Complex.

Fans filled the bleachers and the hill to see LA Tech (6-3) improve its home winning streak to seven matches compliments of three goals by Cunningham and a goal apiece from Brittany Beddow and Monica Gebler.

"I thought the speed of play was very good and there seemed to be a lot better connection between the various lines than had been seen early on in the season," head coach Kevin Sherry said. "We used a lot of players today to give everyone an opportunity to shine and, for the most part, everyone took that opportunity with open arms.

"Southern is improving every year and are well coached, and they provided a difficult challenge for us today. It was a good test and one in which we can be happy with how we went about overcoming that challenge. The fan support was awesome and they created such a good atmosphere under the lights."

The Lady Techsters struck in the 12th minute when Mylene Roy-Ouellet was taken down in the box, awarding the home team a penalty kick opportunity.

The sure-footed Beddow stepped up to the line and put the ball into the back of the net for her 19th career goal. The senior is a perfect 4-for-4 on penalty kicks in her career.

It looked as if the one-goal edge was all Tech was going to have going into halftime, but Cunningham scored twice in the final three minutes before the break.

In the 42nd minute, a perfect through ball by Kendall Ayers gave way to a charging No. 11 who finished it to the left side past the diving keeper.

Then in the 44nd minute, the Stonewall, Louisiana native raced down a ball delivered by Erica Stewart and beat the keeper to it who had come off her line. She then calmly knocked it in to give LA Tech a 3-0 advantage at the end of the first period.

Cunningham was not the only Techster to score their first career goal tonight. After three corner kicks from the near side by Ayers were not able to produce a goal, Tech earned another corner kick from the far side.

This one was taken by Gebler, who had enough bend on the ball that it curled inside the near post for the goal.

To finish the night off, a handball was called inside the box on Southern (0-6) giving the Techsters another penalty kick opportunity. Cunningham then completed the hat trick for her third goal of the night, becoming the ninth player in program history to do so.

LA Tech held a lopsided 23-3 shot advantage. Goalkeeper Kylee Seto picked up her fifth win of the season as well as registering her 12th career shutout.

LA Tech hits the midway point of the 2015 season when they travel to face Jackson State in what will be the final non-conference match. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at JSU Soccer Field.

For all the latest in LA Tech Soccer, follow them on Twitter (@LATechSOC), Instagram (@LouisianaTechSoccer) and Facebook (LATechSoccer) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.

GAME NOTES

- With the 5-0 win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series over Southern, 5-0. The Techsters have shut out the Jaguars in four of the five meetings.

- With the victory, LA Tech records its ninth (out of 12) season of going undefeated at home during non-conference play.

- LA Tech is now 42-5-4 all-time in home non-conference matches.

- LA Tech has won seven straight matches at home and 12 of the last 13.

- LA Tech starting XI ÃÆ'¢Ã¢'¬" Kylee Seto, Annabel Prior, Brittany Beddow, Monica Gebler, Moriah Phillips, Mylene Roy-Ouellet, Kendall Ayers, Keely Davis, Sarah Gifford, Taylor Douglas and Nicole Dincau.

- Senior Brittany Beddow made her team-leading 66th career start.

- Junior midfielder Annabel Prior made her first start of the season. It was also her first appearance after recovering from an injury.

- Sophomore Corbrielle Boulard saw her first action of the 2015 season.

- True freshman Kaitlyn Cunningham became the third Lady Techster in program history to net a hat trick in a single game. Her first goal of the night was also her first goal of her collegiate career.

- Monica Gebler netted the first goal of her Techster career.

- Kylee Seto made her eighth start in net. She is now 5-3 in goal this season.

- Kylee Seto recorded her 12th career shutout.