RIPON — Aubree Pelon came through with the hat trick.
During Thursday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division V semifinals, the Ripon High junior forward scored three times while leading her No. 2-seeded Indians past Colfax at Stouffer Field, 5-1.
"I was so impressed with Aubree," said Ripon coach Nicole Meyer. "Scoring three goals in the sections doesn't happen too often."
Pelon managed the scoring trifecta earlier this season against Riverbank, according to assistant coach Bryce Perkins.
The Indians (17-3-1) will now have a chance to defend their section crown. They'll face the winner of No. 1 Amador and No. 4 Hilmar in the championship game still to be determined. That semifinal has been postponed due to inclement weather and pushed the final-round match, originally scheduled for Saturday, back to some time next week.
Ripon drew first blood against No. 4 Colfax (11-6-6). In the 8th minute, sophomore striker Devaney Dougherty netted a goal from about 12 yards out — the ball barely eluded the grasp of the Colfax goalie.
The Falcons evened the score at 1-1 in the 24th minute on Alex Melendez's free kick from straight away.
Enter Pelon. She broke the tie, scoring in the 32nd minute to give Ripon a 2-1 edge. Freshman Maddy Winter helped set up the play with a steal.
Pelon's second goal came at 55th minute from well beyond 18 yards. She found a little room along the sidelines on the break away. Nicole Brown pushed the ball out in triggering the play.
The same combination struck again. Pelon broke loose, getting a pass from Brown and adding that insurance goal in the 62nd minute.
"We were all nervous coming into the game,"Pelon later said. "I think it was a relief to the team after we went ahead."
For extra measures, Winter delivered a shot from about 20 yards out in the 67th minute to provide the final score.
"I was proud of how the team pulled together. We had fun and played loose (once we got ahead)," Pelon added.
Ripon reached the semifinals by blanking No. 7 Orestimba earlier in the week.
No. 3-seeded Colfax took care of No. 6 Linden.