BENNINGTON, VT. – A first half hat-trick by Southern Vermont College senior Kaitlyn Forant (Hardwick, Vt.) helped lead the Mountaineers to a 7-0 New England Collegiate Conference win over visiting Daniel Webster College Saturday afternoon on Everett Field during the College's Homecoming Weekend.

Southern Vermont started the scoring early after controlling the ball and pressuring up high, working the play through the middle extremely well. Forant notched her first to put the Mountaineers on the board after she collected a nice pass from the right side off the foot of freshman Mazie Holton (Arlington, Vt.); she took a touch in the middle of the box and slotted it in for her second of the season in the fifth minute. Three minutes later, junior Michelle Flores (Pico Rivera, Calif.) put home her first of the year when she headed in a corner from senior captain Jocelyn Ortega (Chula Vista, Calif.) for the 2-0 go-ahead.

DWC would get its offensive possessions, but the Mountaineers would quickly squander the Eagle opportunities and work it back in transition.

Flores then recorded her first assist of the campaign when she brought the ball down in deep on the right side and crossed it to the middle of the box, finding junior Lixsa Arlet Sandoval (Stockton, Calif.) who ran on and finished for her first of the season. Shortly after, Forant would put away her second of the day in the 17th minute and then found herself with an open net to complete the hat-trick with 25:25 to go in the half; senior Lindsay Pilling (North Adams, Mass.) brought the ball in from the right and took a shot that deflected off the near post into the middle of the box where Forant was able to run on and put it in for her fourth of the year. SVC would continue to control the ball for the remainder of the half, going into the break ahead 5-0.

The Mountaineers would press and keep working the formation in the second, again controlling the pace with midfield connections. Two more goals late in the half by Ortega sealed the 7-0 victory.

Mountaineer sophomore keeper Katie Raymond (Bristol, Conn.) made one save in the first half for the win (2-6-1) as freshman Mazie Holton (Arlington, Vt.) took over in the second to complete the shutout. DWC freshman goalie Kerry Hager (Wolcott, Conn.) recorded seven saves in the loss (0-4).

The Mountaineers and Daniel Webster both return to action next Saturday with NECC matches as Southern Vermont (2-5-1, 1-1 NECC) visits Newbury College for a 12 p.m. tilt and the Eagles (0-8, 0-2 NECC) host Lesley University at 3 p.m.