DRC Article on Soccer team, now 2-0

[OldTimer]

Marilyn Marin nets hat trick in 6-0 UNT win

Soccer team improves to 2-0 on young season

09/02/2002

By Terry Britt / Staff Writer

Marilyn Marin was feeling a little left out after not scoring in Saturday?s 7-1 win over Nicholls State.

DRC/Hiroyuki Komae

North Texas' Marilyn Marin (right) wrestles with Duquesne's Julie Broden (13) for a loose ball in the first half at the Mean Green Soccer Complex Sunday.

She more than made up for it at the expense of the Duquesne Dukes. Marin scored a natural hat trick ? the first three goals of the contest ? and later added a fourth to lead North Texas (2-0) to a 6-0 rout Sunday afternoon at the Mean Green Soccer Complex.

"I know that I didn?t play well yesterday [saturday]," said Marin. "I felt I had to come out and work hard to make up for what I didn?t do yesterday."

Against Duquesne?s flat back three defense, Marin earned ample opportunities to get open for shots. Her first goal came in the sixth minute off a nice feed from Melinda Pina in front of the goal.

"She [Marin] really wanted to get a jump early on her offensive game and try to get that first goal, and that?s what she did," said UNT head coach John Hedlund.

Noting that Duquesne?s defensive style plays into the hands of Marin and Pina, Hedlund added, "There?s so much space. They?re pushing balls through and they can go directly to the goal and really utilize their speed."

Pina and Marin would hook up again just over four minutes after the first goal. On a corner kick from Pina, Marin headed it home to give the Mean Green a 2-0 lead. She picked up the hat trick in the 23rd minute on a laser-like 22-yard shot off a pass from Lindsay Bibb.

Just two minutes before the half, North Texas went up 4-0 on an excellent play by a pair of freshmen from San Antonio ? Madison?s Michelle Partain scoring on a tip-in with Roosevelt?s Misty Cordon getting the assist.

Despite the game?s eventual route to becoming a rout, Duquesne (0-2) came out strong in the second half, especially in the midfield, and created some good scoring chances. Fortunately for North Texas, senior goalkeeper Brianna Morris made eight saves on the afternoon to earn her first collegiate shutout.

"They [Duquesne] never quit," said Hedlund. "I told the girls at halftime, ?We?re up four goals, but no lead is safe against this team.? They?ve got good size, they?re very strong in the air and they work very hard.

"It was important for us to set the tone in the second half, at least late in the second half, and hold their burst of energy in that first 10 to 15 minutes."

Erin Marshall headed a shot off the crossbar in the first half and had a 35-yard free kick attempt saved by Morris just moments later. In the 69th minute, Duquesne forward Becky Barritt banged a hard shot off the near post and had her rebound attempt smothered by Morris.

Having survived the strongest of the Duquesne attack, North Texas responded with a Pina goal from 16 yards out on an assist from Marin.

In the 74th minute, Marin notched her fourth goal of the game with a lethal left-footer after getting around a double-team on the right side of the Duquesne penalty box. Elaine Bacchus got the assist on the goal that put Marin just three shy of setting a new UNT career goal-scoring record.

North Texas will try to make it three wins in a row to open the season against Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Mean Green Soccer Complex.

TERRY BRITT can be reached at 940-381-9605.