Pictured: Seniors Shayni Paul (left) and Jenny Brandt (right)

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Junior Morgan Ansems recorded her first career hat trick and the Marian University women's soccer team prevailed over visiting Lakeland College, 3-0, in the regular season finale and Senior Day at Smith Field, this evening, Oct. 30. The win clinched a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament first round home game this Sunday, Nov. 3.

The Sabres missed numerous opportunities in the first half before Ansems struck with the game's first goal with just three second remaining in the first half. She added two more early in the second half to put the game out of reach. Marian outshot Lakeland 25-7, including 14-5 in shots on goal. The goalkeeping tandem of Caitlyn Rosenberger and Aliece Kerscher secured the Sabres' sixth shutout of the season, making five saves combined in the process.

Marian improved to 9-8-1 overall, 7-3-1 in the NACC with the win, while Lakeland dropped to 5-13-1 (2-9 NACC) with the loss.

The Sabres got off 13 shots before finally hitting pay dirt as Ansems connected with her first of the game with just three seconds remaining in the first 45 minutes. The Neenah native benefited from a beautiful string of passes in the final 10 seconds from McKaylee Hagstrom and Brittany Syms and finished with a blast from about 10 yards out.

It was a much-needed score for the Sabres, who had threatened so many times and come up empty due to the tremendous play of Lakeland's Ali Thompson, who made 11 saves in the match.

After coming off the bench in the first half, Ansems then started the second half and made an immediate impact. She scored in the 56th minute, putting home a rebound off a Kylie McArthur shot that was deflected away by Thompson.

Then, in the 62nd minute, the junior showed excited the crowd with an impressive left-footed blast that offered no chance to Thompson. The hat trick nearly doubled her goal total entering the match, giving her seven on the year and 15 for her career.

The backline, led by Jaime Anderson, once again stood tall to the task by limiting Lakeland's chances and helping Marian to their sixth shutout of the season.

The Sabres clinched a NACC tournament first round home game against Concordia University Chicago set for this Sunday, Nov. 3. Start time is to be determined.