QUINCY, Ill. –
Leo Cann recorded the first hat trick of his collegiate career as the Quincy University men's soccer team erupted for four second-half goals to take down St. Cloud State University 5-1 Saturday afternoon at Legends Stadium.
The victory moved the Hawks to 1-1 on the young season after Thursday's 2-1 setback at Wisconsin-Parkside. Quincy outshot St. Cloud State 18-12 and put 10 attempts on goal while holding the Huskies to seven shots on target.
Cann wasted little time putting the Hawks in front, opening the scoring in the 11th minute. The sophomore found the back of the net at the 10:38 mark for the only goal of the opening half, sending Quincy into the break with a 1-0 advantage.
The Hawks quickly added to the lead following halftime.
Jose Perez set up Cann in the 48th minute for his second goal of the afternoon, pushing the advantage to 2-0. The assist marked the first point for Perez in a Quincy uniform.
Quincy continued to pull away in the 74th minute.
Carter Venvertloh and
John Drew combined to set up
Mathias Bringedal, who finished the opportunity to give the Hawks a 3-0 advantage. The helper was the first career assist for Drew, who has now recorded a point in each of Quincy's first two matches after scoring his first collegiate goal Thursday at Parkside.
St. Cloud State broke through in the 79th minute to trim the advantage to 3-1, but the Hawks answered emphatically with two goals just 42 seconds apart late in the match.
Rylan Fischer scored the first goal of his collegiate career at the 84:18 mark, finishing a chance created by Venvertloh and freshman
Gavin Moyers. The assist gave Venvertloh the first two-assist match of his career, while Moyers picked up his first collegiate point with his first career assist.
Cann then put the finishing touches on the victory at the 85:00 mark. Perez found Cann for the second time in the match, and Cann buried his third goal of the afternoon to complete his first career hat trick and give Quincy the 5-1 advantage. Perez's second helper also gave him the first multi-assist performance of his career.
Cann was a perfect three-for-three on his goals among seven shots on goal, while Fischer added four shots and two on target. Venvertloh and Perez each finished with two assists as the Hawks totaled six helpers on their five goals.
Jake Offerman made his first start of the season in goal and turned away six of the seven shots he faced to earn the victory.
The Hawks return to Legends Stadium on Wednesday, September 2, with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 PM.
