LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Tuesday night was a night of firsts for the University of West Alabama women's soccer program as sophomores Nicki Gears and Lydia Sutcliffe each scored three goals in a 6-1 win against Judson College.
 
It is the first time in UWA's history that two players have scored hat tricks in the same game and only the third time a Tiger has recorded three goals in one contest. Gears picks up her second hat trick in her UWA career after she scored three goals in a game last season.
 
 “Nicki was on fire in the first half,” said head coach Graeme Orr. “She was rewarded for working hard tonight, and Lydia is the same. She goes hard for the full ninety minutes and got a couple of great shots off the back post, so I am delighted for both of them.”
 
Much like their 13-1 triumph against Oakwood on Sunday, the Tigers came out and put early scores on the board. Gears started her night with a goal just two minutes in and followed that up with another score at the 18:19 mark.
 
Not to be outworked, Sutcliffe followed suite and put in her first goal just nine minutes after Gears' second of the night.
 
“I scored the first hat trick of my career tonight, and I could not be more excited,” stated Sutcliffe. “When the third one went in I could not believe it, but it just went in and it felt amazing.”
 
UWA was able to extend their first half lead to 4-0 when Gears knocked in a shot at the 31-minute mark. Up 4-0, at the break, the Tigers secured the match in the second period when Sutcliffe added two more goals to extend UWA's lead to 6-1.
 
Just two matches into the season, the Tigers have now outscored their opponents 19-1. Once again, UWA had a stout defense and took advantage of opportunities on Tuesday with 15 shots on goal compared to just two by Judson College.
 
West Alabama now faces Shorter on Friday at 5 p.m. The UWA men's soccer team hosts Montevallo Wednesday at 7 p.m.