SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Playing in the late afternoon on a warm and dry San Francisco day, the USF Dons women's soccer team (3-1-2) took control early as they came away with a 3-1 victory on their home field against the Baylor Bears (2-3-2) on Thursday evening.

USF junior forward Kaylin Lunsford had a career game by securing a hat trick scoring three times and providing more than enough offense for the Dons. Lunsford's hat trick marks the second in just six matches in the early season as Marissa Vasquez scored three times in the season-opening victory over Portland State.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• The warm conditions had both offenses ready to attack early as just three minutes into the contest Lunsford got her career afternoon started with her first goal of the game and season. 
• Not to be outdone, Lunsford was able to find the back of the net again just nine minutes later as she received a beautiful lead pass from Gabby Rizzo to make it 2-0 Dons just 11 minutes into the match.
• Baylor was able to answer four minutes later as they scored their lone goal on Thursday to make it 2-1 as the score would hold until halftime. 
• USF put their foot down on the accelerator in the second half with their aggressiveness and style of play, which helped Lunsford secure an opportunity for her third goal on the night and the hat trick in front of the home crowd. USF picked up their first win of the season at Negoesco Stadium this season by a 3-1 final score. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Lunsford entered Thursday afternoon's game with one goal during her time at USF before tripling that total in her 59 minutes of work against Baylor.
• Rizzo was another key piece in the Dons' attack recording her first assist and point of the season as well as a shot for the Bears.
• Sophomore forward Marissa Vasquez and junior defender Jamesen Ward each recorded a pair of shots for the Dons as well.

CATCHING UP WITH COACH MILLINDER:
"In my 12 years here I don't think we've ever had one hat trick in a season let alone two. I thought we got on them with our pressure early on and we got up 2-0 and we came out in the second half and really played well. Our pressure was better, our organization and communication and we just made it difficult for them in the final 15, 20 minutes and it was a great result for us. We've got a deep, deep roster and we used probably 18 to 19 players today and we're going to need them as the season goes on and I'm really happy with all the contributions today." 

CATCHING UP WITH COACH NIJJAR:
"Baylor is a tough, aggressive squad and I feel for us to compete at that level we'll have to be able to beat teams outside of our region will be very important. I was really, really proud of the girls second half performance and the way we came out and controlled the game and I felt like we earned a win today. We kind of rely on our pressure to impose our will on other teams and we just have to keep on improving it game by game.

UP NEXT:
USF will be back at home this Sunday to wrap up their three match home stand as they welcome the #16 SMU Mustangs for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff from Negoesco Stadium. The Dons faced off with the Mustangs last season in Dallas in a match that ended in a 1-0 victory for SMU. 

For updates and more information on the USF women's soccer program, be sure to follow @USFDonsWSoccer on Twitter, @USFDonsWSoccer on Instagram and @USFDonsWSOC on Facebook.