NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women's soccer team grabbed the early lead and used Cate Patterson's first career hat trick to pull away from University of Wisconsin-River Falls and claim a 6-0 non-conference victory.
 
The Knights matched their season high for goals scored while improving to 13-1-1 on the year, tied for the fourth-highest win total in program history (see chart below). Carleton now has back-to-back seasons with at least 13 victories for the first time in program annals.
 
Patterson notched the Knights' 13th recorded hat trick over the last 36 years. She is now tied for fifth in team history with 23 career goals and third with 65 career points (see charts below).
 
The opening goal came less than three minutes into the contest. A corner kick resulted in a scramble in front, and Anna Borkowski collected the ball and slid it to an open Thea Traw at the edge of the six-yard box for a left-footed blast. It was Traw's fifth career goal and third of the season.
 
Patterson doubled the lead with a spectacular solo effort in the 25th minute. She collected the ball at midfield, then dribbled through the entire Falcon (6-5-3) defense before taking a close-range shot.
 
Carleton extended the lead early in the second half. Kathryn Kresse's shot was turned aside by Grace Zellmer, but the rebound went right to Lauren Caldwell for a tap-in goal during the 50th minute. It was Caldwell's third goal over the last four matches and her fourth tally on the season overall.
 
The Knights put the game away with three goals in a six-minute span later in the second half. Patterson scored from beyond the top of the 18-yard box in both the 70th and 74th minutes. Megan Cablk added her first career goal in the 76th minute, finishing off a cross by Caldwell.
 
The final score was a bit of a surprise when considering that UW-River Falls was coming off a 2-0 loss to national No. 10 UW-La Crosse, a game in which the Falcons kept the Eagles off the scoreboard until the 71st minute.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton heads to Waverly, Iowa, for its final non-conference fixture of the regular season, a 7:00 p.m. visit to Wartburg College on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
 
Most Wins in Program History
18-6-0 (.750) — in 2008
15-3-2 (.800) — in 2010
14-3-0 (.824) — in 1982
13-5-0 (.722) — in 2007
13-2-3 (.806) — in 2022
13-1-1 (.900) — in 2023
 
Carleton Women's Soccer Hat Tricks (since 1988)
Alyssa Reischaucer at Gustavus Adolphus — 10/25/1988
Barb Rider vs. Luther College — 9/15/1990
Heidi Maron vs. St. Scholastica — 10/13/1993
Jean Freeman at Bemidji State— 9/11/1999
M. Russell-Dempsey vs. Buena Vista— 9/10/2000
Birungi Mutebi at Martin Luther — 9/8/2001
Nicky Bloom vs. Lawrence — 8/29/2008
Cassie Burke vs. Lawrence — 8/29/2008
Niki Tomita at St. Catherine — 10/28/2009
Niki Tomita at Macalester (MIAC Playoff Final) — 11/7/2009
Marlena Hartman-Filson vs. Hamline — 9/25/2010
Nora Mertz vs. UW-Stout — 9/9/2018
Cate Patterson vs. UW-River Falls — 10/16/2023
 
Most Career Goals
1.         40 – Birungi Mutebi – 1998-01
2.         30 – Niki Tomita – 2008-11
3.         26 – Nora Mertz – 2016-19
4.         25 – Rose Koch – 1996-99
5.         23 – M. Russell-Dempsey – 1998-01
            23 – Cate Patterson – 2019-pres
7.         22 – Ellie Wilson – 2011-14
8.         21 – Nicky Bloom – 2005-08
9.         19 – Marlena Hartman-Filson – 2009-12
            19 – Casey MacVeagh, 2021-pres
 
Most Career Points
1.         89 – Birungi Mutebi (40g, 9a) – 1998-01
2.         69 – Niki Tomita (30g, 9a) – 2008-11
3.         65 – Cate Patterson (23g, 19a) – 2019-pres
4.         58 – M.Russell-Dempsey (23g, 12a) – 1998-01
            58 – Rose Koch (25g, 8a) – 1996-99
6.         56 – Nora Mertz (26g, 4a) – 2016-19
7.         54 – Ellie Wilson (22g, 10a) – 2011-14
8.         52 – Casey MacVeagh (19g, 14a) – 2021-pres
9.         50 – Nicky Bloom (21g, 8a) – 2005-08
            50 – Lily VanderStaay (18g, 14a) – 2008-11