PUEBLO, Colo. (October 23, 2015) – Senior forward Matt Marchena (Littleton, Colo.) earned his first career hat trick Friday guiding the Colorado State University-Pueblo men's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over South Dakota School of Mines Friday at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Soccer Stadium.
Marchena led the offensive attack with seven shots in just forty-five minutes on the field, earning his team leading eleventh goal of the year.
The ThunderWolves scoring began from the onset with Connor Marth (So., D, Tulsa, Okla.) fed a beautiful ball to the foot of Marchena, hitting a one-timer past the reach of the goalkeeper for the early one goal lead in just the fifth minute of the match.
Marchena's second goal came in the 21st minute after receiving the ball from TJ Thiebaut (Sr., Mid., Pueblo, Colo.) inside the box striking the ball to the far side of the net.
The ThunderWolves defense led by Jack Gonzales (Sr., D, Centennial, Colo.) and Lucas Moreno-Rodriguez (So., D, Bogota, Colombia) kept the Hardrockers at bay for much of the night.
Goal three came in the 34th minute as Marchena dribbled the ball inside the box, striking the back of the net.
At halftime CSU-Pueblo led 2-0 in corner kick attempts.
Nick Mangialardi (So., Mid., Phoenix, Ariz.) netted his first goal of the season in the 61st minute securing the Pack victory.
The win keeps postseason hopes alive for CSU-Pueblo heading into the final conference game at home Sunday versus Regis. A Pack win and they clinch the final RMAC postseason berth.
Pack goalkeeper Sam Haseltine (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) earned the win at the net, facing five Hardrocker shots.
Sunday CSU-Pueblo (8-7-0, 4-5-0 RMAC) will face Regis in its biggest conference game in recent years at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and features a pregame ceremony as part of Parent's Day at the pitch.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
