By GREG MOORE

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — When one soccer player scores three goals in one game it is known as a hat trick, and it is very hard to do.

Cathedral soccer players Ty Bertelsen and Kennedy Williams said they both knew going into Friday’s game against Porter’s Chapel, they would have more scoring opportunities than they do going into most games.

A hat trick, however, was not in their plans, much less two hat tricks, which is what they did when both Bertelsen and Williams scored hat tricks in the game.

The game is believed to be the first time in Cathedral History that two players accomplished hat tricks in one game, said Dennis Hogue, Cathedral head soccer coach.

Williams said the game meant a lot to him, because it was a district contest, and his team was 2-0 in district play going into the game.

Williams, who plays center mid for Cathedral, said his job is to pass but if a shot is possible he is supposed to take it.

“Coach told us this would be one of the weaker teams we played this year,” Williams said, “but I still wanted to put on a show.”

Bertelsen, who plays striker, a position that is a key component of attacking, said Williams helped a lot by passing him the ball often throughout the game, and after Williams got his hat trick, Bertelsen said he asked Williams to help him get his own hat trick.

Hogue said he recently began specializing the team’s lineup against every team they play.

“We had a pretty strong defensive set up,” Hogue said, “but I knew a bunch of guys would get some opportunities to score.”

Hogue said his plan was to pull Bertelsen back when the team had a substantial lead, but Hogue said he decided to leave Bertelsen in.

“I put Ty back in because he was a senior,” Hogue said. “I also think from a coach’s standpoint, I want my seniors to play as much as they can because a lot of them won’t play soccer again.”

Bertelsen said that the Porter’s Chapel game gave his team more confidence going forward.

“We play Parklane and Copiah this week, and I think we will be ready,” Bertelsen said.