Christine Rocchio recorded her first career hat trick and University of Mount Olive posted its sixth shutout of the season as the Trojans clinched a home match in the first round of the conference tournament with a 3-0 victory over Emmanuel College in Conference Carolinas women's soccer Saturday at Franklin Springs, Ga. Rocchio scored all of her goals in the first half. Saturday's contest was the Trojans' regular season finale.
Mount Olive's win, coupled with Converse College's double overtime win over King University Saturday evening, puts the Trojans in a third-place tie with King in the conference standings. The Trojans win the tie-breaker by virtue of their 2-0 win at King October 14 and earn the No. 3 seed.
Mount Olive (9-5-2 overall, 7-2-2 Conference Carolinas) needed less than two minutes to get on the scoreboard as Rocchio scored off a Nichole Poppe corner kick at the 1:45 mark. Rocchio and Poppe combined on another corner kick at 17:17 to extend the Trojans' lead to 2-0.
Rocchio capped the Trojans' first hat trick in four years with a penalty kick at 38:59. The last Trojan hat trick was by Lindsey Stanley October 18, 2011, against Chowan.
Mount Olive outshot Emmanuel 15-5. Stephanie McCoy recorded two saves for the Trojans.
Mount Olive plays host to No. 6 seed Pfeiffer University Monday in the first round at Amon Field. The Trojans defeated Pfeiffer 4-0 October 7 at Amon Field. Match time is 4 p.m.