Alessandra Tavoloni has always had a flare for the dramatic, and that was never more evident than on Tuesday when the Union College senior recorded her 100th career goal in the Lady Bulldogs' 8-0 win over visiting Kentucky Christian University.

Having already notched goal No. 99 just six minutes into the game, the Limeria, Brazil native did a bicycle kick to drill a rebound into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead and her 100th career tally.

"That was just so unbelievable," the Lady Bulldog forward said of the goal. "I hadn't scored a goal like that since my freshman year. The ball was just there and everything was set up perfect for me to do that."

Union coach Juliana Filipe added, "That bicycle kick ... that was just Alessandra. She just has a way of doing things like that, and for it to be her 100th career goal, that was just perfect."

Tavoloni finished with three goals and two assists, giving her 101 goals, 55 assists and 257 points for her career.

The goal was historic in more than just making Tavoloni the sixth women's soccer player in NAIA history to score 100 goals. It made the Union women's soccer program only the second program in collegiate history - NCAA and NAIA, to have two players to score 100 goals.

Before she became the Lady Bulldog coach, Filipe recorded a collegiate record 145 goals.

NCAA Division III Luther (Iowa) College is the only other school to be able to make such a claim. The Norse women's soccer program become the first to do so in 2004 when Katie Pettigrew finished with 124 goals, joining Jen Shinbori, who played from 1998-2001, scoring 102 times.

There is one other school that can claim two 100 goal scorers; however, Western Baptist (Ore.) College - now known as Corban College, had one female and one male to reach the milestone.

The Lady Bulldogs were primed to help Tavoloni get the historic goal. With 39:49 left in the first half, she had goal No. 99, giving Union a 1-0 lead.

Then, things got difficult.

Both Tavoloni and the team seemed to be pressing to get her the next goal. She had several scoring opportunities, but Kentucky Christian goalkeeper Tabitha Weldy made five great saves.

But with 21:13 remaining in the half, a flurry of action in front the net created an open spot and the ball bounced perfectly for Tavoloni to be able to send goal No. 100 in with a bicycle kick.

"I got very emotional," Filipe said of the play. "It wasn't just it being the 100th goal, but the way that she did it. It was just awesome."

"This is just wonderful ... awesome," Tavoloni said. "I never imagined I'd be able to do something like this. I just came (to Union) to play soccer and get an education. You don't plan on doing things like this."

With the score 2-0 at the half, Tavoloni got a start on her second 100 goals as she tallied her third one of the day with 38:45 to play.

Union went on to score five more goals with Tavoloni posting two assists en route to the win. Tanja Harju (Loviisa, Finland) had two goals, while Amanda Weber (Ontario, Canada), Karla Goncalves (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Chevelle Jones (London, Ky.) each had a goal.

The shutout victory was goalkeeper Becki Woodworth's (London, Ky.) third in a row and fifth this season. The senior has 28 for her career.

Tavoloni is now tied for fifth all-time in goals (101) with Western Baptist's KeriAnne Rummey in NAIA history. She is also eighth all-time in assists (55) and fourth in points (257).

Union (8-4 overall) will pay Montreat (N.C.) College a visit on Saturday in Appalachian Athletic Conference action. Game time is set for 2 p.m.