Summer Hernandez had a perfect hat trick as the Chattanooga Football Club women's team topped its goal total for all of 2022 in Saturday's utterly dominant 7-0 victory over Birmingham FC at Finley Stadium.
Hernandez scored her first goal off a header over a defender from 10 yards out, knocked in a corner kick with her right foot at the front left post and later drilled a missile with her left foot to complete the perfect -- using her head and each foot -- trifecta by the 50th minute.
Just two matches into the season, Chattanooga FC (1-0-1) has been the Women Premier Soccer League's most improved team in the South Region's Southeast Conference after going 1-6-1 last season and getting outscored 23-6.
Krysan St. Louis scored for the second straight game, having delivered the tying goal in the season-opening 2-2 draw against Nashville Rhythm FC one week earlier. Meanwhile, CFC Academy player and rising Addie Chapman, who will be a senior at Silverdale Baptist Academy next school year, earned her first professional assist in the rout.
Kedie Johnson opened the scoring for CFC, which led 4-0 at halftime, and Ava Vandoren and Sage Sammeli also had goals against Birmingham (0-2).
CFC will hit the road for three straight games — against 865 Alliance on Friday, Atlanta Fire United on June 4 and Nashville Rhythm FC on June 10 — before its next home match, at 7:30 p.m. on June 16 against 865 Alliance.
The WPSL regular season consists of eight matches split equally between home and away.
Compiled by Patrick MacCoon. Contact him at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.