Box score

ST. MARY'S, Md. - Lauren Carrier totaled her second career hat trick, scoring all three goals for 25th-ranked St. Mary's (Md.) as the Seahawks won a battle of conference unbeatens Saturday afternoon to remain atop the CAC standings with a 3-0 victory over the Stevenson University women's soccer team.

While St. Mary's remains in first place, the loss drops the Mustangs (8-5-2, 2-1-1 CAC) from second down to fifth. However, Stevenson still leads the conference in overall wins with eight.

The Seahawks (7-0-3, 4-0-1 CAC) stay unbeaten on the season and are one of just two teams, Salisbury the other, to be unbeaten in CAC play.

St. Mary's registered held a 26-15 advantage in shots, totaling 13 in each half, but scored both of its two first half goals off Stevenson misses.

Carrier started the scoring just inside the 24th minute when she intercepted a failed clear by the Mustangs and dribbled it into the box before beating freshman Brittany Ross (Millersville/Severna Park).

Two minutes later, Carrier took a pass from Bridget McGovern and fired a shot to the far left corner where a diving Ross deflected it with an outstretched hand, but it wasn't enough as the ball trickled into the goal to give the Seahawks a 2-0 lead.

Stevenson would hold St. Mary's without another tally until the 64th minute when Carrie scored her 13th goal of the season unassisted after sliding the ball from the left side to the far right post.

With 13 goals, Carrie is now second in the CAC behind Mustang freshman Stephanie Eyler (Thurmont/Catoctin) who has totaled 15 through 15 games to lead the CAC.

Not only was Saturday's game a matchup of conference unbeatens, but it also featured two of the CAC's top goalkeepers in Ross and the Seahawks' Marie Oben.

The conference's leader in goals against average and saves percentage, Ross made a career-high 12 saves while Oben, who ranks third in both categories, made six in improving her record to 5-0-2. Meanwhile, Ross suffered just her second loss in 10 starts this season, falling to 8-2-2.

Stevenson travels to Gallaudet next Thursday, October 16 for a 7:00 p.m., contest with the Bison before hosting Marymount (Va.) next Saturday in the Mustangs' final regular season home game of 2008.