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VALPARAISO, Ind. (Oct. 4, 2009) - Sophomore Sarah Hagen tied a school record with four goals, including a hat trick in the first half, to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 5-1 win over Valparaiso Sunday afternoon at Eastgate Field.

The Panthers have won three-straight games to move to 5-5-3 on the season and 3-0 in the Horizon League. The Crusaders fall to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in league play.

"We had a fantastic start. We had three goals in the first 25 minutes," Milwaukee head coach Michael Moynihan said. "We talked about putting together 90 minutes, getting ahead and not coasting once we get ahead. Three goals in 20-some minutes is a testament to how well we played and how well we attacked. And, they were nice goals. Overall I'm happy with the performance."

Hagen tallied her second career hat trick and tallied the fifth four-goal game in Milwaukee's Division I history. She got on the board first in the 13th minute off assists from freshman Helen Steinhauser and senior Kate Megna.

Megna's assist was the school record-tying 26th of her career.

Hagen then hooked up with sophomore Keara Thompson on goals 1:37 apart in the 24th and 25th minutes to stake the Panthers to a 3-0 lead. Steinhauser made it 4-0 at halftime with her first career goal, blasting a shot from 25 yards out in the 43rd minute.

"It kind if takes the pressure off after you get the first couple," Hagen said. "I had to get into those positions to be able to score, but I thought Kate and Keara did a great job of getting me the ball, getting the ball in positions where it was easy enough to tap it in or head it in."

Milwaukee controlled the pace of play throughout the entire match, especially with all of its starters in during the first half. The Panthers did not concede a shot until the 37th minute and finished the frame with a 13-1 shot advantage and 6-0 edge in corner kicks.

In the second half, it started as much of the same, as Hagen looked like she could be going for goal number four before being taken down in the penalty area in the 49th minute. She was awarded a corner kick and calmly converted the PK for her fourth score of the afternoon.

The last four-goal game in school history was Lisa Krzykowski Oct. 12, 1997.

The Panthers were able to get every field player into the game in the second half, but still maintained control of the match throughout.

Valparaiso dodged the shutout with a goal in the 57th minute, but few other opportunities in the attacking third. Luisa Desario tallied the goal off an assist from Rachel Hoaglin.

UWM outshot the Crusaders, 21-5, on the day, including 10-2 in shots on goal. The Panthers also took all eight of the match's corner kicks.

Junior Leslie Deebach made one save for her first win of the season and the second of her career. Mele Cabral made three saves in 75 minutes for Valpo, while Rachel DeFrank stopped two shots over the final 15 minutes.

Milwaukee returns to action at home, hosting Cleveland State and Youngstown State at Engelmann Field next weekend. The Vikings visit Friday (Oct. 9) and the Penguins come to town Sunday.