Kansas University’s Jessica Smith busted a seasonlong scoring slump in a big way Friday afternoon at Jayhawk Soccer Complex.

Smith, a senior forward from Wichita who had failed to score in KU’s first 12 games, connected three times in the Jayhawks’ 4-1 victory over Oklahoma State.

“The first one is the hardest one to get. It’s a big sigh of relief to finally put one in,” said Smith, who had entered her senior season with 12 career goals in 62 games.

It marked the first career hat trick for Smith, who in previous years had twice scored two goals in a game. It marked the sixth hat trick in school history – Caroline Smith netted the last against Florida State on Sept. 12, 2003.

“I think I scored four goals in high school,” said Jessica Smith, the all-time leading goal-scorer in Kansas prep history out of Wichita Southeast.

“It’s more exciting for me to finally put one away (Friday). My teammates deserve the credit. The easy part was knocking them in.”

Smith scored off assists from Jessica Bush, Michelle Rasmussen and Caroline Smith as the Jayhawks (6-5-2 overall, 2-2-1 Big 12 Conference) also received a goal from Emily Strinden against OSU (9-2-2, 2-2-0).

“Jessica definitely came up big. She finished her chances today like a pro,” KU coach Mark Francis said.

KU, coming off a 3-1 loss to Iowa State, a 0-0 tie with Nebraska and a 3-2 loss to Texas A&M, played inspired soccer.

“Our game last Sunday, we didn’t seem like we were playing with any pride – the fact you’ve got to play to the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back,” Francis said.

“(So) at practice we made them wear their own jerseys, their own shirts without ‘KU’ on them. We said that, ‘Friday, when we put the uniform on with KU written on it, we should be proud of it.’ I don’t know if it (inspired effort) was that. We definitely played very well.”

• 6Sports video: KU soccer routs OSU (10-07-05)

KU goalkeeper Julie Hanley stopped five shots in her third start of the season and first in Big 12 play.

The Jayhawks will play host to Oklahoma (11-1, 3-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday at JSC.