Box Score SAN ANTONIO — For the third time in her career,
Kaitie Kasperitis put on a show.
The senior opened up her final season with the Rattlers Friday night with a hat trick in a near-comeback match as the Rattlers fell to Colorado State-Pueblo, 4-3.
St. Mary's Women's Soccer's season opener at Sigma Beta Chi Field thrilled packed bleachers as a wild second half saw seven goals as well as Kasperitis bring the Rattlers back from a 0-3 deficit.
Both teams worked to gain footing in the first half, only totaling six shots combined. The second half quickly proved to be a different match as the shot total jumped to 21 with 12 shots from St. Mary's and nine from the Thunderwovles.
The Thunderwolves (1-0) started a goal-frenzy four minutes into the final frame, netting three goals in six minutes.
Kasperitis (Corpus Christi, Texas) ignited four minutes after the Thunderwolves' third goal, netting her first goal of the game in the 59
th minute, assisted by
Alexandra Pearson.
Rachel Gurinsky fed Kasperitis her second goal in the 73
rd minute with a wide-open look at the net. The 300 plus crowd then exploded three minutes later after an impressive cross from
Kristal Williams found Kasperitis for her third goal of the match and third hat trick of her career.
Kasperitis nearly added a fourth goal to bring the Rattlers in the lead with a header that went just high in the 80
th minute.
The match got physical and heated quickly in the final frame with five of the match's seven yellow cards being awarded in the second half alone.
And it would be one of these yellow cards that helped decide the game.
A debated yellow card drawn on keeper
Alyssa Taramona gave the Thunderwolves a penalty kick that was netted by Kacie Licata in the 78
th minute that would turn out to be the game winner.
As a team the Rattlers recorded eight shots on goal with Kasperitis and Gurinsky notching three apiece. Taramona picked four saves in the loss for a 0-1 record.
Kasperitis' three goals Friday night bring her just seven goals away from tying the program's career goals record, which is currently set at 34.
The Rattlers (0-1) face Ouachita Baptist in their next matchup at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Sigma Beta Chi Field.
