Lynchburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's field hockey team ran its season-opening shutout streak to three games Saturday with a 9-0 shellacking of visiting Alvernia at the Liberty University Field Hockey Complex.

Senior forward Isabella Eldridge (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) recorded her second-career hat trick in the win and also tallied an assist. Sophomore forward Maggie Chiappazzi (Poquoson, Va.) scored twice for Lynchburg, and senior midfielder Kayla Copeman (Williamsburg, Va.) notched a goal and an assist.

Sophomore forward Jackie Lerro (Royersford, Pa.) and senior midfielder Nikki Simpao (Stafford, Va.) each tallied a goal and an assist.

Sophomore goalkeeper Laurel Nicks (Yorktown, Va.) maintained her unblemished season with a shutout in the cage.

THE RUNDOWN

Final: Lynchburg 9, Alvernia 0

Records: Lynchburg 3-0, Alvernia 1-3

Venue: Liberty University Field Hockey Complex, Lynchburg, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lynchburg hit the throttle early and broke through in the sixth minute, when Lerro found Eldridge in front of the cage. The senior finished the feed to start the scoring. Eldridge scored again in the 12th minute, this time on a feed from Simpao.

• Goals from Chiappazzi and Copeman helped the Hornets to a commanding 4-0 halftime advantage.

• Sophomore forward Emily Dudley (Westminster, Md.) kicked off the second-half assualt for Lynchburg thanks to an assist from Eldridge, followed by Eldridge's third goal, one from Simpao, and one from Lerro.

• Chiappazzi put an exclamation point on the win with a 70th-minute goal. Sophomore forward Taylor Jones (Yorktown, Va.) notched her first-career assist on the play.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg will hit the road Wednesday, Sept. 12 for a 5 p.m. date with Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.

--LYN--