(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 23)- Junior forward Erin Kilian (St. Louis, Mo., Kennedy) recorded her second career hat trick with three goals on Thursday night to lead the No. 7 McKendree University women's soccer team to a 4-1 win over Lindenwood University (Mo.).

McKendree overcame a sluggish early on in the contest and took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute on a header from Kilian off a free kick by junior midfielder Chrissy Ghirardi (O'Fallon, Mo., Ft. Zumwalt South). Following halftime, senior midfielder Kyla Nighohossian (Granite City, Ill., Granite City) scored off a dropped save by Lindenwood goalkeeper Whitney Calvin to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute. Kilian struck again in the 69th minute off a pass from sophomore forward Carlee Luehmann (Granite City, Ill., Granite City), but a successful penalty kick by Jenni Tenholder of Lindenwood made the score 3-1 with under five minutes to play. Kilian scored her third and final goal of the game in the 88th minute off a pass from senior midfielder Sam Hartman (Troy, Ill., Triad) to record the hat trick and give McKendree the 4-1 win.

Kilian's three goals matches her career-high of three goals set last season in a 6-1 win at William Woods University on October 26th.

Senior goalkeeper Liz Yanko (St. Louis, Mo., Rosati-Kain) played all 90 minutes in goal and had two saves. She improves to 8-0 overall this season.

McKendree will travel to Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, September 25th for a game against Avila University at 6 p.m.