Riverside, Calif. - La Sierra's Daniel Alvarado scored a hat-trick in the Golden Eagles, 8-1 win over Pacific Union College, on Saturday night. The win propelled the team to their seventh win of the season and a 4-2 mark in the Cal Pac standings. The eight goals scored by La Sierra are the most goals scored this season, topping the previous high of six goals scored against Soka University, back on October 4.
Alvarado scored his first of three goals just five minutes into the match (assisted by Manuel Zendejas), but the Pioneers scored the equalizer, five minutes later. The score remained knotted at 1-1 until Alvarado broke the tie, in the 19thminute, with the eventual game winning goal, on another assist from Zendejas. Just over a minute later, Alvarado completed the hat-trick with an unassisted goal, which pushed the lead to 3-1. Israel Vasquez then joined in on the action by scoring two goals in a span of three minutes. With Enzo Cambruzzi adding the final goal of the first half, off an assist from Rodrigo De La O Peres.
The Golden Eagles took the 6-1 lead into the half, before Felipe Mendizabal added two more goals off his own in the second half of play. Mendizabal scored two unassisted goals in the 74thand 86thminutes.
As a team, La Sierra held a distinct advantage in total shots (21-5) and shots on goal (11-2). Troy Dekker picked up the win in goal for La Sierra, by making two saves on the night, while Carlos Baez was charged with the loss, after giving up six goals, making two saves, in 45 minutes of play.
The team will now prepare for a important trip to Arizona next week. The Golden Eagles will travel to Embry-Riddle on Thursday evening, before closing the trip, on Saturday night, at Benedictine University.
