HOPEWELL TWP. — In the first half of a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal round game on Monday, the top-seeded Hopewell Valley girls completely dominated play against Steinert  but only had one goal to show for it. In the second half Steinert played much better, only to see the Valley Girls pump home three more. Go figure, but no matter how it came about Hopewell’s 4-0 over Steinert was impressive stuff as it extended its unbeaten streak to 15 straight and and easily advanced into the semifinal round behind a hat trick by Elizabeth Buchert. Hopewell’s semifinal round game will be played on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on its home pitch. It’s opponent will be West Windsor-Plainsboro South, which advanced with a victory over Ewing. Despite its losing record, Steinert (7-9-2) had played solid defense for most of the year. As such, the fact Hopewell was able to score four times against the Spartans speaks volumes about how the team is currently playing. Recording her second career hat track after scoring three in a game last year, Buchert opened the scoring with 12:37 remaining in the first half when she headed home a goal from close range on a corner by Katherine Reinhart. “It was a perfect cross from her,” said Buchert. “All I had to do is get my head on it.” Buchert’s second goal was a spectacular one as she used her right foot to unleash a 25-yard bomb into the far upper corner of the net six minutes into the second half. “Yes,” she replied when asked if that was where she was aiming. “It’s always the top corner.” What followed was a thing of beauty as Buchert completed her hat trick on a pretty passing combination with Colbie Pagnotta. It started with Pagnotta passing the ball to Buchert, who in turned passed it back to Pagotta, From there, the two worked the give and go to perfection as Pagnotta passed it back to Buchert, who was able to easily slide the ball past Steinert keeper Mia Petracca. “We have been practicing working together and not playing as individuals,” said Buchert. “We’re all friends and are playing together as a team.” For good measure Hopewell Valley scored a fourth goal when speedy freshman winger Meg Kurian beat Petracca with a shot along the ground on a breakaway after taking a pretty thru ball from Charlotte Barnes. “I think in the first half we were a little impatient,” said Hopewell Valley coach John McGinley. “In the second half we calmed down and did a better job of countering. The girls also did a great job of putting together their passes.” Valley Girl keeper Chloe LiVecchi didn’t have to do much, but did some through with a diving one-handed save midway through the first half en route to recording a clean sheet against a Steinert team that has had scoring struggles all year long. Steinert (7-9-2) 0 0 — 0 Hopewell Valley (14-2-2) 1 3 — 4 Goals: Buchert 3, Kurian. Assists: Reinhart, Kurian, Pagnotta, Barnes. Shots: S-9,  HV-10. Saves: S-Petrecca 5 HV-LiVecchi 3.