Sophomore Annie Wayland, the 1999 Valley Freshman of the Year and team and league leading scorer last season, recorded her first collegiate hat trick, notching three goals as the Illinois State soccer team defeated Northern Illinois 6-0 in its season opener in DeKalb, Ill.
Wayland, a St. Peters, Mo. native, got the Redbirds rolling in the first half by knocking a four-yard kick into the net at 18:28. She got control seven minutes later and put the ball between the posts at 25:18, taking ISU to an early two-goal lead. Wayland finished off her hat trick at the 28:47 mark off a pass from sophomore Ty Winkelhake before the end of the first half.
Freshman Diana Puckett from Park Ridge, Ill., recorded one of her two goals on the day on an unassisted shot from the center at 42:26. Freshman Tiffany DeClark of Buffalo Grove, Ill., and Puckett finished off the scoring for the Redbirds late in the second half.
The Redbirds, 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the Valley, had 22 shots in the contests, 13 on goal. The Huskies of NIU recorded six shots, four on goal.
Senior Becky Feldmann made four saves for the Redbirds while Katy Boll of Northern Illinois made six.
The Redbirds continue its 2000 season over Labor Day weekend as the team travels to West Lafeyette, Ind., to participate in the Purdue Tournament, Sept. 1-3.
