VerHage Nets Hat Trick As Bulldogs Dominate Parkside To Open League Play

Kenosha, Wis. - For the second time in five games, the nationally #23-ranked Ferris State Bulldogs rode a hat trick performance to victory as senior Grace VerHage accounted for half of Ferris State's 6-0 output in a win over the Parkside Rangers to open FSU's defense of its first-ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) title. With the win, the Bulldogs started 1-0 in league play.

On the day, VerHage struck three times, added an assist, and fired a game and career-best 10 shots on the day. Ferris State moved its shutout streak to four games in the process.

Ferris State dominated the box score with a 35-2 advantage in shots for the day with a 25-2 shots on goal advantage. The Bulldogs attempted six corners and allowed none for the Rangers. Ferris State did not allow a shot attempt until the second half.

The Bulldgs began their offensive assault when VerHage scored her second goal of the season at 24:23, the eventual game-winner for a 1-0 lead.

Then, just under six minutes later, senior Emily Mergener picked up her second assist of the campaign when she dished it to VerHage, who fired in her second goal of the day and third of the season at 30:08 of the opening half.

For the third-straight game, Ferris State took a 2-0 lead into halftime on the road and added quickly to that total in the second frame. Senior Bri Rogers picked up a pass from VerHage and rifled in her first goal of the year just 2:57 into the second frame to make it 3-0 in FSU's favor. VerHage earned her second assist of the year on the play.

Later, at 65:30, VerHage wrote her name in the history books, deflecting a feed from junior Katie Nestico past a diving Parkside keeper for the hat trick, giving Ferri State a 3-0 lead. Nestico earned her first assist of the year on the play. 

For the Bulldogs, VerHage's hat trick marks the first time two separate Bulldogs have notched a hat trick in the same season since 2006 (Kristie Smilanich & Tammy Unsworth), as she followed junior Izzy Zamborini's hat trick against Lindenwood back on Sept. 4. 

In the second half, at 71:52, the Bulldogs picked up another historic goal for the program as senior Pia Nagel became the fifth 30-goal scorer in school history when she picked up her third of the year from Nestico. Nagel is the first to hit the 30-goal mark since Bri Borgman (2011). Nagel ran her goal-scoring streak to three games on the play while Nestico picked up her second assist of the game on the goal.

Finaly, just under 10 minutes later, sophomore Sydney Stones netted her first collegiate goal at 81:22 for the 6-0 final. Freshman Lindsay Cole dished out her first collegiate assist on the play.

In goal, Ferris State freshman Darya Mosallaei moved to 4-1-0 and made two saves in the contest. She was relieved by sophomore Haley Golembiewski with 6:19 remaining, and the two split the shutout as Golembiewski registered her first college action.

For the Rangers, Mia Guyton took the loss and made 14 stops and allowed two goals. Izzy Guyer made four saves in 21:55 in relief, allowing a pair of goals.

In its current four-game win- treak, Ferris State has outscored opponents 18-0 and outshot opponents 88-17. The Bulldogs haven't allowed a goal in their last 373:56 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs return to the pitch on Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET) when they take on the Purdue Northwest Pride in GLIAC action in Hammond, Ind. It will be the Bulldogs' fourth outing of a five-game road swing.