Lynchburg, Va. – Seven Hornets found the back of the net as the University of Lynchburg women's soccer team earned a 9-0 win over Averett for its 10th regular-season victory.
Lynchburg dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes and outshot the Cougars 37-0. The Hornets also tallied a season-high 20 corner kicks, while the offense forced Averett goalkeeper Krista Hinebaugh to make seven saves.
After the victory, Lynchburg owns a 10-2 overall record, with both losses coming against top-10 opponents in the national rankings. The 2026 campaign represents Coach Todd Olsen's 31st consecutive season with 10 or more wins, dating back to 1996.
The Cougars' defense stymied Lynchburg's attack throughout the opening 25 minutes. Lynchburg's first eight shots did not pop the net, until Hargrove found the team's first goal in the 26th minute with a set piece header.
The Hornets added a second in quick succession as Leigha Gronau corralled her fifth goal of the regular season. Kate Hillegas charged towards the end line and found Gronau with a swift entry feed in the box.
Erin Anroman converted her first goal as a Hornet in the 42nd minute to punctuate Lynchburg's fiery conclusion to the first half. Lynchburg earned 15 corners in the opening 45 minutes and maintained over 70 percent of possession.
To open the second half, Rylee Wampler found her first goal of the season in the 47th minute with a left-footed strike above the keeper's reach. Wampler's conversion marked one of two unassisted goals for the Hornets.
Up 4-0, Lynchburg continued its dominance with three goals within three minutes. Samantha Mitchell caused a deflection that resulted in a goal in the 56th minute, while Gianna Brown collected her first collegiate goal in the 57th. Hargrove picked up her second goal of the contest in the 58th minute.
Hargrove's scoring continued into the 61st minute, when the sophomore netted a rebound opportunity from Ally Hopkins. The goalkeeper failed to handle the ball cleanly, leading to an easy shot in front of the frame.
Makayla Hargrove's hat trick marks the first by a Lynchburg player since Mac Joly's three-goal performance in 2022. The Charlottesville, Va. native now leads the team with seven goals and 16 points.
To cap the high-scoring affair, Teigan Casey earned her sixth goal of the season in the 75th minute. While scoring off the bench throughout most matches, Casey secured her second start of the season in Wednesday's match.
The Hornets (10-2-0) will hit the road for their final nonconference game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 10 to face Mary Washington (8-1-2) at 1:00 p.m. in Fredericksburg, Va.
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