LYNDONVILLE, Vt. - Powered by sophomore Michaela Horne's (Southboro, Mass./Algonquin Regional) hat trick and seven points, the Saint Michael's College women's soccer team downed Lyndon State College, 7-0, on Wednesday at the Lyndon Athletics Field. The Purple Knights improved to 1-2, while the Hornets are 3-3.

With her three goals and one assist, Horne came within three points of Pam Melcher's '85 program record of 10, set on Oct. 12, 1984. Horne is the first Purple Knight to net a hat trick since Laura Anacone '09 on Sept. 12, 2005. Senior Olivia Biron (Saint Albans, Vt./BFA-Saint Albans) added two goals and an assist, and junior Megan Pfeffer (New York, N.Y./Saint Vincent Ferrer) and first-year Abby Pelon (South Lyon, Mich./Ladywood) both netted their first college goals. Senior Aubrey Ouellet (Bedford, N.H./Bedford) and junior Kaylee Sullivan (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) both worked one half without facing a shot on goal.

Sophomore Marley Harmon (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) made eight stops for Lyndon State.

Horne potted the winning goal 15:09 into the contest, taking a feed from junior Cassie Chernicki (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson Regional), before dishing off to Biron 6:57 later to double the lead. Pfeffer tallied in the 37th minute following a cross from sophomore Allegra DiCesare (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) to send her team into halftime with a 3-0 advantage. Horne converted a Biron pass in the 52nd minute, sending her shot home off the keeper's fingers, before completing her three-goal game at 69:22 on a shot from 18 yards. Biron knocked in a point-blank chance at 78:53, and Pelon tallied after a failed clear up close 2:51 later to cap the scoring.

The Purple Knights open their home slate on Saturday by taking on American International College at 4 p.m. The Yellow Jackets, who are ninth in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) East Region poll, advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament Final Four.