AURORA, COLORADO – St. Thomas (1-0-1) defeated  McPherson (0-1) 9-1 in a neutral site matchup Saturday at Aurora Sports Park.  Freshman Karina Medina recorded a hat trick to lead the Bobcats.

Medina opened up the scoring just 96 seconds following the opening whistle off an assist from Andrea Wunch Manzur.  The freshman from Felix Varela Senior High School followed with a second goal 22 seconds later off a Jannel Johnson assist to give to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead early on.  Medina would score again in the 55th minute on an unassisted goal. 

In the first half, the score remained 2-0 in favor of the St. Thomas following Medina's early goals until the 43rd minute when junior Kortney Hinden scored a goal off an assist by senior Alexa Rivera to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the scoring parade continued with Medina's third goal followed by a goal in the 66th minute by Johnson, assisted by Taylor Malone.  Johnson then scored another goal in the 77th minute on a solo run through the middle of the field. It marked Johnson's second and third goals of the season.

Amyah Banks then recorded an assist to set up a goal by Lisa Wallje in the 79th minute to give the Bobcats a 7-0 advantage.  McPherson followed with their lone goal of the contest in the 80th minute.

Hinden scored her second goal of the contest on an assist by Johnson in the 84th minute. 

Banks then scored a goal in the 86th minute, this time assisted by Hinden to conclude the scoring onslaught.

Johnson finished the game with two goals and two assists, with Hinden registering two goals and one assist while Banks recorded one assists to go along with one goal.

The Bobcat defense held McPherson to just six shots, providing support for STU goalkeepers Cristina Garwacki and Taylor Malone.

St. Thomas returns to action with the home opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m. vs. Florida Memorial at the STU Soccer Fields.