BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Nov. 3, 2018) - Behind a three-goal performance from Most Valuable Player Lauren Smith, top-seeded College of Staten Island rolled to a 6-2 win against third-seeded John Jay College in the 2018 CUNYAC/USS Women's Soccer Championship Saturday at Brooklyn College Field.

Smith, who had the first multi-goal performance of her collegiate career, achieved the hat trick in the first half. She notched back-to-back goals just 34 seconds apart in the fifth minute of play, and got her third tally of the game in the 32nd minute.

"I can't even believe it," said Smith about scoring a hat trick and leading the Dolphins to a fourth-straight CUNYAC title. "I am really excited and speechless. I love this team so much. To be able to help lead them to a win again, it's amazing."

In addition to Smith's hat trick, sophomore forward Samantha LaValle tallied a pair of goals for CSI. LaValle found the back of the net in each half for the Dolphins, including a 29th-minute tally to extend Staten Island's lead at that point to 3-0.

John Jay would close the gap to 4-1 at the half, as Anneliese Tucci bent in a free kick in the 41st minute that got the Bloodhounds on the board.

In the second half, CSI kept up the offensive intensity, and drew a handball inside the 18-yard box that awarded the Dolphins a penalty kick. Red-shirt senior defender/forward Adrianna Parello converted on the attempt, firing a shot past John Jay freshman keeper Brittany Shaneberger to make it a 5-1 game.

Shortly thereafter, LaValle struck for her second goal of the match, volleying a Parello free kick into the far corner of the net in the 68th minute to cap off the scoring for CSI.

The six goals scored by the Dolphins were the most in a CUNYAC Championship, and the hat trick by Smith was the first ever recorded in a women's final.

"We came out strong. That was the game plan from the start. Really control the game as much as we can. The tempo, our energy, everything. Just finding the back of the net early really helped us a lot today," CSI Head Coach Brittany Casares said.

Staten Island has now earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The selection show for the championship will air Monday (Nov. 5) at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.