Mankato, Minn. --- Freshman Taylor Kenealy recorded her first-career hat trick and the Minnesota State women's soccer team cruised to a 5-0 win over Minnesota Duluth in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match on Sunday afternoon at The Pitch.

With the Mavericks (2-2-1, 1-1-0 NSIC) ahead 2-0, Kenealy scored the final three goals of the match in the 16th, 19th and 48th minutes, respectively. She now leads the Mavericks on the season in both goals (4) and points (9).

Minnesota State took an early 1-0 lead over Minnesota Duluth (2-2-2, 0-1-2 NSIC) in the fifth minute when senior Dana Savino scored her first goal of the season -- the 14th of her Maverick career. Sophomore Morgan Cottew picked up an assist -- her first of two in the game -- on Savino's goal.

In the ninth minute, Cottew scored for the second-straight match. She timed a run up the middle of the field and received a pass from senior Kiana Nickel. After collecting the ball and getting behind the Bulldog defense, Cottew slid a shot past Minnesota Duluth's goalkeeper and into the back of the net to put Minnesota State up 2-0. The goal is Cottew's third of the season and Nickel tallied her second assist of 2016, on the play.

Kenealy then got to work -- garnering her hat trick. Her three goals were assisted by Cottew, freshman Alesha Duccini and junior Jenny Hoerter. Cottew's assist gave her four points on the day and eight on the season -- second on the team behind Kenealy. Duccini's assist is her first as a Maverick, and Hoerter's helper is her second on the season and the 11th of her Minnesota State career.  

The Maverick defense, which was led by sophomores Abby Hausken and Morgan Seemuth, and junior Lexi Pszanka, stifled the Minnesota Duluth offense -- holding the Bulldogs to six shots, including three on goal during the match. The Minnesota State offense tallied 13 shots with nine on target. 

Goalkeepers freshman Alexa Rabune (2-2-1) and sophomore Taylor Livermore each played a half. Rabune stopped two shots in the first half and Livermore saved the only shot she faced in the second period. 

Ng Sisley (1-1-1) made four saves for Minnesota Duluth.

Minnesota State next faces Sioux Falls at 6:00 p.m., on Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D.