Abby Buitrago started her hat trick with a pair of goals in a two-minute span as Ripon Christian had its way with Le Grand in a 6-0 victory.

The Lady Knights have posted three straight shutouts to start Southern League play and improved to 6-6 overall with their latest show of force.

On Tuesday, Ripon Christian needed just 10 minutes to break Le Grand’s spirits.

Rachel Faure connected with Samantha Carvahlo and Courtney Bloemhof for goals in the 5th and 8th minutes as the Lady Knights shot out to a 2-0 lead.

Carvahlo’s goal was set up by a foul at the top of the Le Grand penalty area, resulting in an indirect free kick. Faure quickly played the restart onto Carvahlo’s shooting foot for the game’s first score.

Bloemhof was rewarded for her work along the wing, turning a pass from Faure into a shot to the near post.

Faure also tallied a goal in the waning seconds of the match to complete a dominating effort.

Buitrago stretched the Lady Knights’ lead to 5-0 with strikes in the 45th, 47th and 77th minutes.

Goalie Bryanna Heida finished with two saves.

Ripon Christian will close the week with games at Delhi on Thursday and at home versus Mariposa on Friday.

Nonleague

Ripon 2, Linden 0

Amanda Evans scored two goals and Courtney Slamon earned the shutout for Ripon, which tinkered with its starting 11 with several players unavailable.

Coach Jamie DeBruyn was without Zaire Davis and three other starters on Tuesday, giving him a rare opportunity to experiment with his lineup. He played a few players in new positions, including Cindy Alvarez as a defender and Evans on the field. Everything worked.

Ripon’s goalie on most match days, Evans finished a penalty kick in the 9th minute and then capped the scoring with a strike in the 20th minute off an assist from Megan Johnson.

Slamon stood in admirably for Evans, finishing with two saves.

“I think what I liked most about tonight was there were two to three different people in different positions and we still maintained a good, high level of play,” DeBruyn said. “I’ve known from the beginning that out bench was going to be strong this year.”

The Indians begin Trans-Valley League play next Tuesday at Hilmar.



Valley Oak League

East Union 11, Lathrop 0

In Lathrop, Clarissa Lecce had a hat trick to lead a balanced and potent attack for the Lancers, who have yet to yield a goal on the season.

Ilena Rivera (three assists), Anna Wood and Arianna Cardenas tallied two goals apiece, while Bella Cardenas and Jenna Zuniga each finished with one in a rout of Lathrop to open the Valley Oak League season on Monday evening.