MORAGA, Calif. – After a dominant 4-2 performance last Sunday which saw Nayeli Diaz net a hat trick, the Gaels put their high-pace offense to the test against their last two non-conference opponents of the season. 
 
THE DETAILS
UPenn (2-0-4) at Saint Mary's (4-1-2)
Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 pm
Saint Mary's Stadium – Moraga, Calif. 
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Washington State (4-1-1) at Saint Mary's (4-1-2)
Sunday, September 18 at 1:00 pm
Saint Mary's Stadium – Moraga, Calif. 
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LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's put on a show over the weekend, beating the UCSD Tritons 4-2. Despite great performances all over the pitch, the afternoon belonged to Nayeli Diaz. Diaz recorded the first Gaels hat trick in over 15 years.
 
Her first goal came in the 14^th minute, when she danced her way through four Triton defenders and into the UCSD penalty box. Diaz then passed the ball to her right, where Tessa Salvestrin controlled the ball, before quickly passing the ball back to Diaz, who clipped the ball over the keeper and into the left corner to make it 1-0 SMC.
 
The Gaels were flying at the start of the second half, scoring three goals inside the first five minutes. Diaz scored her second thanks to a great cross from Emily Jensen. Jensen drove towards the box, before lacing a pass across the penalty box to the streaking Nayeli Diaz, who calmly guided the ball into the back of the net for her second of the day, making it 2-1 Saint Mary's. Jensen then scored a goal of her own just one minute later to make it 3-1.
 
Diaz expertly notched her 3^rd goal of the day in the 50^th minute, sealing her hat trick and victory for the Gaels. This time, a cross from Isabella Santavicca bounced off a Tritons defender before settling at Diaz's feet. She calmly moved around the defender, and poked the shot past the goalkeeper with her right foot.
 
ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA 
The Quakers are coming off a 3-0 win over Stony Brook on Sunday September 11. Last season, UPenn finished 9-5-2 overall and 5th in the Ivy League with a 3-4 record. Thursday will mark the first ever meeting between the Gaels and the Quakers. 
 
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
The Cougars are coming off 3-2 win against Cal Poly on Sunday September 11. Washington State finished 14-3-4 last season and 3^rd in the Pac 12 behind USC and UCLA. The Gaels and the Cougars have met 10 times in the past, Saint Mary's leading the contest 6-1-3. The two teams last faced off in 2017, when Washington State bested Saint Mary's 1-0 in Pullman, Washington.