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GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore Rachel West became the first Gettysburg College women's soccer player in seven years to record a hat trick as the Bullets sent Susquehanna University packing with a 5-1 decision at Clark Field Saturday night.

West tallied goals in the 24th, 52nd, and 72nd minutes to notch her first career hat trick. She is the first Bullet to reach the mark since Katie Myers '07 struck for a school-record four goals against Chestnut Hill College in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Nov. 10, 2004.

After going off for eight goals in its season opener against Susquehanna (1-1) last fall, Gettysburg (1-1) struggled to find its rhythm in the opening period of Saturday's affair. West provided the only offense with a low right-to-left shot at 23:04 for her first tally of the year.

Susquehanna answered Gettysburg's call on its first shot attempt of the match as Angela Amato blasted a free kick from 30 yards out into the top of the net at 40:42.

The Bullets picked up the pace in a big way in the second half, recording 17 of their 23 shots in the period. West ignited the run by converting a penalty kick at 51:41. Junior Casey Attanasio followed up just 1:49 later with a blast from outside the box to make it 3-1.

West helped start Gettysburg's next scoring opportunity, corralling a loose ball and sending it wide right through the defense. Junior Lindsey Lyons raced to the ball, maneuvered around a Crusader defender, and laced a cross to the far post where sophomore Tara Crowley waited to strike her first collegiate score at 67:29.

Lyons and West put a cap on the offense as the former found the latter in front of the cage at 71:46.

Gettysburg out-shot Susquehanna 23-4 and recorded all four corner kicks in the contest.

Senior goalie Allie Rivera stopped one shot to pick up her first win of the year. West finished with six shots, while sophomore Becca Kent and freshman Mary Kamovitch each tallied a trio of shot attempts.

In the first match of the day, Lebanon Valley College sneaked past John Carroll University 2-1 in overtime. Nicole Snyder notched her fourth goal of the weekend in the 96th minute to propel the Dutchmen to the win.

Gettysburg returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 10, with a non-conference road trip to St. Mary's (Md.) College at noon.