Emporia High sophomore Jordan Sosa recorded a hat trick during Monday night’s game against Topeka West, scoring all three goals to help the EHS girls soccer team down the Lady Chargers, 3-0.
“She looked good tonight,” EHS coach John Decker said. “It was really good to see her get three in tonight.”
In a game that was seemingly a must-win for Emporia to maintain pace in the hunt for a Centennial League title, the Lady Spartans (6-4) bounced back from a loss to Seaman a week ago with the victory.
“We took care of business tonight,” Decker said. “This was an important league game for us.”
Sosa scored two of her goals in the first half within 5 minutes of each other.
The first came off a free kick from Jessica Decker, who sent the ball through the defense to a waiting Sosa, who knocked it past Topeka West goalkeeper Jana Stuhr to make it 1-0 in the 25th minute.
Then, in the 29th minute, Sosa dribbled her way through the Lady Chargers’ defense and sent the ball into the net to make it 2-0.
Her third score did not come until the 76th minute, and she needed a little luck to find paydirt.
Jennifer Knickerbocker sent a pass downfield toward the goal, but the ball appeared to be headed out of bounds to the side of the net, and a Topeka West defender and the goalkeeper both stopped, expecting a goal kick instead of what actually happened.
Sosa took advantage, getting a shot to bend into the far edge of the net just as the ball was set to go out of bounds.
“She got that one out of hustle,” Decker said.
EHS goalkeeper Melanie Nuessen picked up the shutout for the Lady Spartans, as she recorded three saves.
The Lady Spartans are back in action tonight with a game at Highland Park.
Emporia 3, Topeka West 0
Monday at TRYSA
First Half
Emp — Jordan Sosa (assist from Jessica Decker), 25th minute
Emp — Sosa (unassisted), 29th minute
Second Half
Emp — Sosa (assist from Jennifer Knickerbocker), 76th minute
Game Statistics
Shots on goal — TW 3, Emporia 7. Total shots — TW 9, Emporia 15. Saves — TW 4, Emporia 3. Corner kicks — TW 3, Emporia 5. Total fouls — TW 15, Emporia 12. Yellow cards — TW 1, Emporia: Brittany Meza, Ashley Leihsing.