Southern Miss Soccer Player Hutton The Hat-Trick Hero
11/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 21, 2006
FROM SPECIAL REPORT -- - Ashley Hutton yesterday emulated Northern Ireland's record goal scorer David Healy by grabbing a hat-trick to keep the women's team in the battle to make the second stages of the European Championship qualifying. In one sense Hutton out-shone Windsor Park hero Healy as her treble (third) was scored with her head in a historic victory.
It was the first time a Northern Ireland women's team won a competitive fixture away from home and with Croatia beating Turkey in the other game, their hopes of qualification are still alive. Hutton, a freshman midfield/defender for the Golden Eagles, headed home the opener in the first-half before nodding in the second and third after the break.
The scoring was completed by Hutton's Southern Miss colleague Kimberley Turner in the late stages.
What made Hutton's hat-trick even more remarkable was that it came just 48 hours after she suffered a head injury and a broken nose in the opening game against Turkey.
"We should have won by even more, but I don't want to take anything away from the girls because they were excellent," said coach Alfie Wylie. "Everyone really played their part in the win." Victory over Croatia on Thursday can now seal progress if the Turkey vs. Georgia result goes Northern Ireland's way.
Former Southern Miss player Stacey Hall and current player Sarah McFadden also are members of the national team.