PINEVILLE, La. (Sept. 5) -- First year forward Ashley Gallegos (pictured) ignited her collegiate career with a hat trick to lead Hendrix College to a 7-0 season-opening win over Louisiana College on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Field.

Gallegos (El Paso, Texas/Chapin H.S.) totaled eight points on the day with three goals and two assists, while junior midfielder Lydia Nash (Fremont, Calif./Washington H.S.) dished out three assists and four other Warriors scored one goal apiece. The Warriors have not scored seven goals since defeating University of Dallas, 7-0, on Sept. 9, 2007.

It took Hendrix 22 minutes to crack the scoreboard, when senior forward Kate Burnett (Little Rock, Ark./Central H.S.) put the ball past the keeper off an assist from Gallegos. The two forwards traded places for the next goal with Gallegos scoring and Burnett assisting in the 28th minute.

Gallegos connected with Nash for her second goal of the contest with four minutes remaining in the first half. First year midfielder Kaleigh Knapton (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak H.S.) scored her first collegiate goal off an assist from sophomore midfielder Lindsey Abel (Van Buren, Ark./Northside H.S.) in the 41st minute, while Gallegos and Nash combined once again to put Hendrix up 5-0 in the first half.

The Warriors tallied 24 shots in the first half, compared to the Wildcats’ two. Goalkeeper Emily Breaux made 12 saves for Louisiana in the first half, while sophomore Allison Mosley (Sulphur, La./St. Louis Catholic H.S.) did not face a shot on goal the entire game.

Abel scored Hendrix’s first goal of the second half off Nash’s final assist of the game, while first year forward Ana Contreras (Houma, La./Liberal Arts & Science Academy) slipped the Warriors’ final ball past the keeper in the 88th minute off an assist from Gallegos.

Hendrix will now set its sights on Ouachita Baptist University for the 2009 home opener on Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. on Warrior Field.

For more information on Hendrix Athletics please visit www.HendrixWarriors.com or contact Brian Rejer, Sports Information Director, at (501) 450-1426.

- HendrixWarriors -