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Parris Vega scored a hat trick as the St. Mary’s Panthers claimed an easy 6-1 victory over St. Patrick on Friday. 

Freshman Margot Davis scored two goals for St. Mary’s along with assisting on one of Vega’s goals.  

The Panthers (7-4, 5-3 BSAL) have one regular-season game left, today against Holy Names. With a win, they would clinch the third seed in the BSAL playoffs, which would mean a home game in the opening round on the uneven ground of the St. Mary’s field. 

“A home game would be important for moral support, and we’re familiar with our field,” St. Mary’s head coach Donny McGuire said. 

The Lady Bruins (2-7-1, 2-7) were no match for St. Mary’s on Friday, as Vega and Davis carved up the St. Patrick defense with their precise through balls and speed.  

“(Vega and Davis) work really well together, and they’re big assets to have up top,” McGuire said. “During the first few games they were at different positions, but they’ve come together nicely.” 

Davis started the season at sweeper, but the emergence of sophomore Brianna Plump at that spot has allowed the freshman to use her skills to score goals rather than prevent them. Vega, on the other hand, can excel at midfielder or attacker, as her passing often sets up teammates for easy shots. 

Chelsea Sera scored the first goal of the game for the Panthers just four minutes in, chipping St. Patrick goalkeeper Monica Villanueva. Vega put Davis through on a 40-yard run 10 minutes later, and the freshman dribbled around Villanueva before scoring. 

Vega pounced on a loose ball in the St. Patrick end in the 18th minute to score her first goal, and Davis finished the scoring for the first half when she forced a turnover, then scored off of her own rebound. 

Vega’s second goal came just after halftime, volleying in a low corner kick from Davis. She then finished off the hat trick by bursting down the middle of the defense to score in the 54th minute. 

The Bruins managed a consolation goal in the 61st minute. Villanueva, released from the slow torture of facing down St. Mary’s shots to play the field, sliced a ball into the St. Mary’s box. Several Panthers watched the ball trickle by them before Sarah Giggoltti slammed it past St. Mary’s substitute goalkeeper. But McGuire wasn’t too worried about his team giving up a soft goal. 

“It was a different defense and a different goalie,” he said. “They know they made a mistake, but it wasn’t a game-costing mistake.”