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--> --> SOU booters rout Hooters By Bobby Heiken Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon University freshman Jeannelle Thompson is starting to mature at the same time as her Raider women's soccer team. And with the Cascade Conference tournament coming up - that's just in time. The prep all-star from Grants Pass recorded the third hat trick in school history as the Raiders downed Oregon Tech 5-0 Tuesday at the SOU field. "I've been in a slump lately but today I felt great," said Thompson, who had scored two goals in the previous 16 matches. Thompson wasted no time busting out of that slump. At the 16-minute mark, Thompson was roaming in front of the goal when senior Alison Richards fired a perfect pass in Thompson's direction. The freshman jumped up and headed it past the Tech goalie for the 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, Thompson took care of the scoring all by herself. Again planted 10 yards in front of the goal, Thompson picked up a rebound and lofted the shot over the top of the OIT goalie and SOU was up 2-0. The Raiders dominated Tech for the rest of the half as the Owls rarely got the ball in any sort of offensive position. With a minute left in the half, freshman Jacqueline Fahrney dribbled up the left sideline past the Tech defense and found sophomore Emily Pippen in the middle of the field. The former Hillsboro High star rocketed a shot into the net for a 3-0 halftime lead. "It usually takes us a few minutes to get going," Raider head coach Jose Chavez said. "Fortunately OIT wasn't that big of a challenge. We've been practicing the keepaway. When we play that way the goals come by themselves." The Raiders didn't let up in the second half as Thompson was in the giving mood at the 69th minute - finding senior Monica Doshier for a goal and a 4-0 lead. In the 82nd minute, Thompson donned her hat off an assist from sophomore Laura Ball for the 5-0 victory. "It's all about the passing," Thompson said. "That's what we are working for - the pretty goals." Chavez was also impressed with SOU's team play. "We are trying to accomplish some new things and show the girls that passing the ball gets results" Chavez said. "They are starting to feel more comfortable and are starting to believe in it." The Raiders (8-8-1, 8-3-1) wrapped up the No. 3 seed for the Nov. 2 and 3 conference tournament with the victory. Western Baptist and Concordia are still battling for the top two spots. "We don't know who we are going to play yet," Chavez said. "But we know we are going to come out trying to win." SOU ends the regular season this weekend, traveling to Concordia Friday and Evergreen State Saturday. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing