KENNESAW, GA. – Laura Tucker scored three of Kennesaw State University's five first-half goals as the Owls downed Francis Marion University 6-3, Sunday afternoon (Nov. 6) in the women's soccer Independent Cup at the KSU Soccer Complex.

The Owls struck first in the eighth minute when Pip Meo scored an unassisted goal on a 20-yard blast from the left of the box.

Francis Marion senior Mollie Jones tied the game in the 10th minute grounding a shot past KSU goalkeeper Jessica Marek.

The Owls (13-4-1) then erupted for four consecutive goals in the final thirty minutes of the half. Jenae Gzehoviak gave the Owls the lead with her eighth goal of the year and then Tucker, who was tied for the team lead in points with Gzehoviak, struck for a pair of goals.

Stephanie Grzeszkowiak tallied the final goal of the half when she scored on a breakaway in the 38th minute.

Tucker notched her first hat trick of the season when she scored the lone KSU goal of the second half from a pass from Gzehoviak.

Francis Marion (5-9-1) scored a pair of late goals to cut the margin to three goals. The Patriots scored their second goal in the 85th minute when Keri Barton headed a ball that hit off a Kennesaw State defender and trickled past Marek. In the 89th minute, freshman Jamye Friess scored off a corner kick taken by Jones.

With the loss, FMU concluded its 2005 season, a year that saw the Patriots begin the transition to full NCAA Division I status.