Banks Scores Three; Lions Downed At Wesley

DOVER, Del. – Despite three goals from Brianna Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Parkway Center), the Penn State Brandywine women's soccer team was defeated during its season-opening match, falling 4-3 in a back-and-forth game at Wesley on Wednesday night.

Banks, a two-time Penn State University Athletic Conference Player of the Year, registered the eighth hat trick of her 31-game career at Brandywine. She owns 53 goals in those matches.

The Wolverines got on the board at the 9:18 mark, but Banks evened the score just eight seconds later after receiving a feed from Mariah Pierce (Philadelphia, Pa./Kensington Health Sciences Academy). Wesley added its second score of the contest during the 18th minute to take a one-goal edge into the half.

Banks answered for Brandywine, scoring off a pass from Rachel Weir (Neptune City, N.J./Red Bank Regional) under three minutes into the second half. Wesley again jumped in front, countering Banks' score 29 seconds later with a goal from Janiah Moore; however, Banks completed her hat trick and pulled the Lions even for the third time exactly five minutes following Moore's goal.

Moore struck again for Wesley during the 56^th minute, giving the Wolverines a one-goal lead for the fourth time in the game and this time they would not relinquish it. Brandywine was limited to one shot on goal over the final 34 minutes, a rip from Banks that was turned away by Wesley goalie Isabella Fabris at the 58:06 mark.

Fabris made five stops, as did Brandywine net minder Emily Bush (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional), while Banks accounted for nine of Brandywine's 12 shots.

Brandywine (0-1) looks to bounce back Saturday night under the lights at Ursinus. Start time is slated for 7:30 pm.