NATCHITOCHES—While Northwestern State celebrated Senior Day, it was a junior who stole the show during its dominant 7-0 victory against Prairie View A&M on Thursday evening at the Demon Soccer Complex.

After scoring two goals in a game on four occasions, Emily Senatore found the back of the net three times for her first collegiate hat trick and first for NSU (6-2-3) in the Ian Brophy era.

It is the first hat trick for the Demons since Olivia Draguicevich in 2022 against Southeastern Louisiana, which also happened on Senior Day.

"It felt amazing to get the hat trick," Senatore said. "I set a goal for myself this season to get a hat trick at some point. I didn't tell anyone about it because it was my own personal goal, and it feels so good to finally get one."

The three goals bring her career total to 19 for the native of Oxford, Conn., as she is closing in on the top 10 in program history, sitting just two shy of 2025 N-Club Hall of Fame inductee Heather Penico (21).

Paige Baumgartner, one of five seniors honored following the win, celebrated in style with her fourth goal of the season.

Riley Stern recorded her second goal of the season, while Ravina Sandhu and Gabriela Page each found the back of the net for the first time in their collegiate careers to round out the scoring.

"I am really happy with the performance and the way we played," Brophy said. "We dominated possession and dominated the chances. I am really happy with the number of shots we had and how we controlled the pace of the game.

"To get a win for the seniors was the priority for today and I am glad that we got it done."

While the score turned lopsided, the Demons led 1-0 at the half, thanks to Senatore's goal in the eighth minute.

NSU had chances to put it away in the first half, but NSU only had three shots on frame of 12 attempted, and three shot attempts hit the crossbar, and one more hit the post.

But the Demons settled back in and rolled in the second half, starting with Baumgartner's goal in the 53^rd minute, finding the back of the net on a rebound following a shot by Emily Mougia.

"It was a great feeling all around," Baumgartner said. "I was expecting that shot to go in, so when it did, I was feeling all the emotion, so it was really great."

Senatore scored twice in a span of 30 seconds to secure her hat trick, the second of which came on a penalty kick, to double the lead from 2-0 to 4-0, putting the game away.

"I wasn't sure if I should take the PK since it is Senior Day," Senatore said. "I kind of wanted a senior to take it, but Ian called on me to take it, so I was like 'Okay, I'm getting my hat trick right now.'"

With the game in hand, the depth showed itself for NSU, finishing the contest with three goals in the final 13 minutes to bust the game wide open.

Page scored her first goal on a terrific passing display from the Demons, as Bailey Porter crossed it to Sandhu, who passed it ahead to Page, who won the race to the ball with Prairie View (1-7-1) goalkeeper Ella Copenhaver and slanted to her right and sent in the back of the unoccupied net to make it 5-0.

"It felt like a dream come true," Page said. "I've been thinking about this moment for a long time. Breaking my collarbone was a little bump in the road, so coming back and getting to score my first goal, honestly, made it the best day ever for me."

Porter recorded another assist on Stern's goal, as Porter crossed it to Sandhu, who tapped it ahead to Stern. After drawing iron in the first half, Stern scored bottom left of the goal this time around.

"It is always nice being a part of the goal, regardless of if it is a goal yourself or an assist," Sandhu said. "Riley is always in a perfect spot and was there to put it in, so kudos to her."

Porter matched Stern's three assists with three of her own, passing it to an open Sandhu in the middle of the box, and Sandhu sent it home to wrap up the scoring.

NSU attempted 30 shots, the most shot attempts since recording 31 shot attempts in the victory at Nicholls in 2019.

The Demons jump back into Southland Conference play Sunday when they travel to Houston Christian before coming back home for two, against Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 2) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Oct. 9).