The Hamilton College women's soccer team opened a three-game homestand Tuesday afternoon, beating the Sage Gators 4-0 at Love Field.

Kate Whiston '18 scored a natural hat trick in a span of just 4:26 and the Continentals (3-6-2 overall) held the nation's 21st-ranked offense to just two shots on goal.

Whiston's career-best three-goal performance started in the final minutes of the first half, scoring twice just 31 seconds apart. With 1:56 left in the half, she took a pass at the top of the box from Darby Philbrick '18 and put her shot inside the left post. After the Continentals regained possession following the ensuing kickoff, Jessie Murray '19 sent a cross to the far post that Whiston tapped in from close range.

Whiston completed the hat trick 2:30 after halftime, taking the ball at the end line then dribbling toward the net before sending a shot off the hands of Sage goalkeeper Cassy Robataille. The goals were her first of the season and raised her career total to five.

Hamilton closed out the scoring in the 80th minute when Philbrick took away an attempted clearing pass at one post and shot just inside the other post.

The Gators (8-6-0) – who came in averaging 3.5 goals per game – went nearly 62 minutes between their two shots on goal. Taylor Lynch nearly put Sage ahead in the second minute when she stole a clearing pass at the top of the box, maneuvered around a Continental defender and sent a shoulder-high shot at the right post that Hamilton's Emily Dumont '18 saved with both hands.

Dumont earned the win with her scoreless first half; Rachel Cooley '18 completed the shutout with a save in the second half.

Robataille finished with nine saves.

The Continentals host a pair of games this weekend, starting with an 11 a.m. NESCAC game against Bowdoin at Love Field on Saturday.