McCarthy's hat trick lifts Hoosiers to 3-0 victory

A hat-trick of goals courtesy of freshman Lindsay McCarthy was all IU needed in its 3-0 mid-week, non-conference victory over Oakland University Thursday night. \nMcCarthy scored the game winner and very first Hoosier goal against Oakland in the 50th minute en route to what would be only the second IU hat trick this season and the first ever hattrick by a true freshman.\nMcCarthy's first goal resulted when she gained control of a loose ball in the Oakland penalty box. She fired a blistering shot that bent around several IU and Oakland bodies and right into the upper corner for a goal that Oakland goaltender Jessica Howard had no chance of saving.\nMcCarthy struck again just five minutes later in similar fashion. She cleaned up another loose ball and tucked it into the back of the net right under the body of Howard to give the Hoosiers the 2-0 advantage.\nMcCarthy got the hat trick in the 73rd minute after making connection with a ball delivered by sophomore Megan Pipkens for a diagonal shot across the goal mouth that went low into the net. \n"(Scoring the goals) felt great because we came out strong and worked hard to get these goals because we didn't score much last weekend," McCarthy said. "I'm really excited right now, and I can't wait until the next game Sunday against Wisconsin."\nThe Hoosier offense didn't show any signs of life until the closing minutes of the first half, when they first started to constantly pressure the Oakland goal by dominating possession and keeping the ball in Oakland's defensive third of the field.\n"It was a game of two halves," IU coach Mick Lyon said. "In the first half, I didn't think we gave them enough respect. We didn't put the effort in that is necessary to win a soccer game. So the challenge for them for the second was to come onto the field and show that effort."\nEven though IU earned a win tonight, the game was still one for learning lessons for what will be a tough Big Ten game against Wisconsin Sunday.\n"This game proved that we can't afford to come out in the first half flat," junior goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro said, "because against a team like Wisconsin, they'll just put us away, and we just need to put all of our effort into every game we play."\nEven though the Hoosiers' defense allowed only one shot, Lyon was not pleased with the performance of his team's defense.\n"I thought this was the worst defensive performance we've played," Lyon said. "We were slow to the ball; we missed headers; we allowed the ball to bounce; we didn't find our targets early enough, and somehow not give up a goal."\n-- Contact staff writer John Fischer at jbfische@indiana.edu.