Kneisel’s Hat Trick Leads Cougars to Victory

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Just days after a frustrating scoreless effort, the College of the Canyons women's soccer team made up for missed chances and scored five goals in a shutout victory over Santa Barbara City College on Monday afternoon.

College of the Canyons forward Marissa Kneisel led the way for the Cougars scoring a hat trick in the team's highest scoring game this season.

Kneisel started the afternoon's scoring early on in the first half. Just six minutes after the opening whistle, the freshman forward notched the Cougars first goal of the day on an assist from Astrid Perez. The Cougars led 1-0.

A second goal came quickly after in the 13th minute when Jennifer Mendez put one past Santa Barbara goalkeeper Karin Nordin. Astrid Perez was credited with her second assist of the game on the goal.

The Cougars led 2-0 at the halftime whistle.

The second half saw more Cougar firepower on their opponent's side of the field.

In the 50th minute, Marissa Kneisel netted her second goal of the game when a pass from Jennifer Mendez led to a one-on-one chance against the keeper. Kneisel faked to her left, creating space to put her left-footed shot into the back of the net. The Cougars led 3-0.

A Canyons free kick into the box led to a wild scramble in the box for a mishandled ball from the Santa Barbara goalkeeper. Marissa Kneisel was able to find the ball and volley it into the Santa Barbara goal to finish off her hat trick on the afternoon. A 4-0 lead all but assured victory for the Cougars at that point.

COC midfielder Natalie Mitchell rounded out the scoring on the day with an assist from Elise Wassner, adding to COC's tally 5-0.

The victory boosts College of the Canyons' record to 3-1-2. All three of the Cougars victories have come via shutout.

The Cougars next travel to Lancaster, California to take on Antelope Valley College in the season's first Western State Conference game at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30.