GREENSBURG, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's soccer team's second-half surge, on top of Diana Pon's hat trick, fueled the Lions to secure a 5-3 victory over Pitt Greensburg on Saturday afternoon, September 6.


Diana Pon was unstoppable on offense for the Lions, as she recorded three goals, a pair in the first half, and the third just five minutes into the second frame. Julia Hughes and Serenity Hill both added a goal each and Hughes also pitched in a pair of assists as well. Ciera Frick recorded her first assist of the season on Pon's third goal against the Bobcats.


Penn State Harrisburg (2-1-1) wasted no time against Pitt Greensburg (1-2-0), as Pon found the back of the net in just the ninth minute when she hit a one-timer off a deflection by a Bobcats defender. Just under two minutes later, Pitt Greensburg forced a 4-on-3 situation in the box and Riley Gesinski connected with Sarah Folmer who had an easy shot just feet away from the net to tie the game.


In the 26th minute, Pon attempted back-to-back corners for the Lions, but it was the second one that curved over the goal line and scored to put the visitors up 2-1. The Bobcats, however, capitalized off a free kick by Dionna Santia which she successfully sent into a cluster that bounced the ball around until it found the feet of Gabriella Finch. Finch lofted it over the head of Penn State Harrisburg goalkeeper Alexis Valenta to tie the game 2-2 going into halftime.


The Lions' impressive ball rotation and offensive pressure continued into the second half, when Kara Slavin connected with Julia Hughes inside the eighteen, and Hughes crossed the ball to Pon who settled the ball and scored past Bobcats' goalie Anna Fauber. The match was deadlocked once more at 3-3 after Megan Hickey received the ball in the box and navigated around the defender to score Pitt Greensburg's third and final goal of the day.


In the 71st minute, just after subbing in, Hughes gathered a throw-in by Frick and evaded a few Bobcats defenders to find the top right corner of the net for the game-winning marker and to put Penn State Harrisburg up by one. With just a five minutes left in the contest, a fast-break opportunity for the Lions saw Hughes find Serenity Hill and Hill added a goal for good measure to help secure the 5-3 victory for the visitors.


NOTABLES
- Pon's hat trick against the Bobcats brought her to five total goals in just two games for the Lions.
- Hughes goal on Saturday marked the 13th of her career, while her two helpers were the first of the season.
- Hill's goal versus Pitt-Bradford was the 23rd marker of her career.
- Frick also chipped in an assist of her own.
- Valenta and Alli Dietz split the time in goal for Penn State Harrisburg and together tallied three saves.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions have a quick turnaround as they face off against Saint Vincent on Sunday afternoon, September 7 at 4 p.m.


STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.