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Vander Rocha
4
Winner Ashland AU (7-3-1, 6-2-0)
2
Malone MU (3-9-0, 1-7-0)
Winner
Ashland AU
(7-3-1, 6-2-0)
4
Final
2
Malone MU
(3-9-0, 1-7-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ashland AU 2 2 4
Malone MU 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Director of Athletic Communications

Rocha Hat Trick Helps Lift AU Men To First Place In Great Midwest

Junior midfielder Vander Rocha was the catalyst for a lot of milestones for Ashland University's men's soccer team on Tuesday (Oct. 4) night at Malone.
 
Rocha scored a hat trick in the Eagles' 4-2 win at the Pioneers on Tuesday, a victory which is Ashland's sixth in a row – the longest since the program was reinstated in 2016, and the longest since starting the 2008 season at 12-0.
 
In moving to 7-3-1 overall and 6-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Eagles have gone from having no points in the first two league outings to the outright lead in the conference table.
 
The Pioneers are 3-9, 1-7.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
  • The Eagles wasted little time in setting the tone in their favor, scoring twice in the game's first five minutes. Rocha scored both goals, his first two tallies as an Eagle, in the fourth and fifth minutes, on assists from sophomore defender Teddy Togliatti (his first of the season) and senior defender Oliver Whaley (his second of the season).
  • In the 21st minute, the Pioneers cut their deficit in half on a goal from Christian Piccolotto, assisted by Colton Fry. The score remained 2-1 heading into the second half.
  • Junior midfielder Matthew Roberts gave AU a two-goal advantage once again at 3-1 after scoring on a penalty kick in the 67th minute. It was Roberts' second goal of the season.
  • Randy Harris' tally from Fraeday Moo in the 69th minute put the Pioneers back within a single goal at 3-2, but Rocha returned the favor by finishing off the hat trick with a goal from sophomore forward Jake Grove in the 75th minute for the game's final margin.
 
THE WRAP-UP
  • Before Rocha's hat trick, no Eagle had scored more than one goal in a game this season.
  • Sophomore goalkeeper Ty Bowden (7-3-1) got the win in net, making four saves.
  • Ashland had the better of play on Tuesday night, outshooting Malone, 19-11, and taking 12 of 16 corner kicks.
 
UP NEXT
Ashland's men will return to Ferguson Field for another Great Midwest game on Thursday (Oct. 6) at 6:30 p.m. against Cedarville (5-5-1, 3-4).
 
This contest will have a pregame tailgate, featuring a pregame fire pit, a raffle for a gift card package and a t-shirt for AU students, and pizza from Ohio Fire and hot chocolate and coffee from Goldberry Roasting Company while supplies last.
 
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