WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University senior Ebony Madrid scored her second hat trick of the season in leading HPU to a 3-1 PacWest Conference victory over Fresno Pacific on Wednesday evening at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
 
The Sharks (6-3-1, 3-1) never trailed in the match as they handed the Sunbirds (1-7-2, 1-1-2) their first loss since Sept. 28.
 
Madrid, the senior forward from Porterville, Calif./Ramstein (Germany), the PacWest Conference leader in goals and points, netted all three goals as she posted her 11th, 12th, and 13th goals of the year. She is the first HPU woman to score 13 goals in a season since the 2007 season, passing the 12 goals scored by Dyanne Anderson in 2009 and Erika Ellis in 2014. She has now scored more goals as a senior in 2019 than she did in her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons combined.
 
It didn't take Madrid or the Sharks to jump out in the lead. In just the third minute of the game, HPU was dominating in the offensive end. A ball got out to freshman Kaylee Sumida of Honolulu/Moanalua on the left wing and she found a wide-open Madrid in the center of the box. Madrid launched a one-timer into the net for the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Sharks couldn't capitalize on other first half opportunities and carried the 1-0 advantage to the half.
 
In the second, the Sunbirds evened the match at 1-1 when Cori Wing collected her first goal of the season off a corner attempt in the 59th minute.
 
The tie was short-lived as the Sharks got a rush upfield and freshman Callie Rheaume of Camas, Wash./Camas fed Madrid who drilled it in for a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute.
 
The final goal came just at the start of the 89th minute when the Sunbirds got sloppy with the ball in their defensive end. Madrid stole the ball and took it by backup FPU goalkeeper Savannah Watts and toe poked it in for the 3-1 lead and a new high-water mark for HPU.
 
The Sharks attempted 20 shots against the Sunbirds, with FPU starting goalkeeper Hannah Hathaway recording four saves with two goals against. Watts, who played 18 minutes in reserve, allowed on goal.
 
The Sharks defense allowed the Sunbirds just six total shots, with sophomore goalkeeper Marissa Froio of Simi Valley, Calif./Royal notching two saves and allowing the one goal.
 
The Sharks have a few days to enjoy the win and prepare for their next PacWest contest on Monday evening against Dominican (Calif.). Kickoff for the first game of a women's/men's doubleheader is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.