ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The junior, Lauryn Skoruppa, led the way for the Cardinals conference win over Bethel Saturday afternoon after recording a hat trick in the first half of action to secure the 4-0 win.
 
Bethel took the first shot of the game at the fifth minute to strike first but moments later the Cardinals took it downfield and earned a free kick. The free kick was mishit by the Royal's defense and Samantha Munson headed the ball forward for Skoruppa to lean her head in for the first goal of the game at the 15^th minute.
 
Within five minutes after, the Cardinals kept applying pressure stealing two corner kicks and two shots on goal from Munson and Skoruppa.
 
At the 30^th minute, the Cardinals forced a turnover in the mid-field and Lauren Ashe sent a ball forward to Skoruppa who chipped the ball over the Royal goal keeper to open the lead to two goals.
 
Off a Cardinals back field throw in, Kaelyn Clasen saw the one-on-one matchup with Skoruppa and kicked the ball ahead where Skoruppa used her speed to tally another goal and record her first career hat-trick and the three-goal lead going into the half.
 
The Cardinals started the second half off hot with two shots from Ashe and Lauren Fields within the first ten minutes to try to build the lead, both were saved by the keeper.
 
The Royals responded earning two corner kicks with two crucial saves from Anna Peckosh. Looking to not get shutout with ten minutes remaining, the Royals took a shot in the box that was blocked resulting in a corner kick and the ball was kicked around looking for an opening and finally went out of bounds for a Cardinal goal kick.
 
The Cardinals could not go scoreless in the second half, with five minutes remaining, Skoruppa fed a slotted ball to Anika Chavez who found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal and took a four-goal lead.
 
On a three-game winning streak, the Cardinals are 4-1-1 in conference.
 
The women's soccer team returns to the pitch Wednesday, Oct. 16^th for a 3:30 p.m. start hosting St. Olaf.