Blazers Win Regular Season Finale Behind Santiago's Hat Trick

IRVING, Texas – Lia Santiago served notice. Three times.

She's for real.

Santiago scored three goals – two off penalty kicks – as Dallas College North Lake women's soccer team concluded the regular season with a 3-1 win over Dallas College Mountain View Tuesday.

The Blazers (3-8-5, 2-5-3 Dallas Athletic Conference) will play Dallas College Eastfield in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South District quarterfinals Tuesday at Dallas College Brookhaven.

Santiago scored in the third minute on a penalty kick. Mountain View's Angelique Garfias answered with a penalty kick goal of her own in the eighth minute to tie the game a 1-1.

In the 63rd minute, Santiago put the Blazers ahead for a good on another penalty kick winner. She completed her hat trick – her second of the season – in the 70^th minute when she fielded a ball from Taniyah Dorothy, dribbled up the left side and deposited it in the goal.

It was her DAC-leading 18^th goal of the season. She is tied for second in the country in goals, and tied for fourth in points (38).

"In my opinion, she's one of the best offensive players in the conference," Blazers head coach Adrian Gonzalez said. "We're hoping she's going to be able to come back and continue to score goals for us next year."

Santiago, who has scored five goals in her last two games, recorded her first hat trick at Southwestern Adventist University Sept. 5. Tuesday's three-goal performance was her first in conference play.

Dorothy's assist was the first point of her Blazer career.

North Lake goalkeeper Emely Vargas made two saves in picking up her third victory between the posts. She has 77 saves this season. Mountain View keeper Naomy Cueva stopped three of the Blazers' six shots on goal.

It was North Lake's first win since beating Eastfield, 4-1, in the first round of league play Sept. 26. The Blazers had three ties since that win.

The Blazers fell to Mountain View, 2-1, in the opening round of the district tournament a year ago.

"We have high expectations for the playoffs to try to win our first round game," Gonzalez said, "and move on to the semifinals."