Oct. 14, 2005

Box Score

Freshman forward Raul Rodriguez netted a hat trick to lead the West Texas A&M University men's soccer team to a 4-0 win over St. Edward's University Friday afternoon in Southwest Soccer Conference action at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buffs improve to 5-0 at home and run their SSC record to 8-0, as WTAMU is now 9-4 overall.

Rodriguez came on as a sub in the 28th minute, and netted his first goal of the match less than a minute later, taking a feeder from senior forward Josh Fender and drilling a one-timer to the upper V. The 1-0 WTAMU lead stood through halftime.

In the 76th minute, sophomore defender Kenneth Christensen netted a penalty kick, after fellow sophomore defender Jesse Purvis was fouled in the box.

Rodriguez came on as a second-half sub in the 77th minute and less than two minutes later corraled a loose ball and dribbled past a couple St. Edward's defenders and beat Hilltopper keeper Chris Sanders from 6-yards out. In the 85th minute, Rodriguez completed the hat trick with a chip over Sanders off a long pass from Christensen off a free kick.

Christensen's family from Denmark were in the stands, and the sophomore tallied his first goal and third assist of the season.

WTAMU returns to the turf of Kimbrough on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a showdown with traditional rival Midwestern State University. The Indians are currently in tie for second-place in the SSC, entering a match Friday evening at Eastern New Mexico University.

-WT-