PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. -- The No. 12-ranked Yavapai College men's soccer team flexed its muscles Tuesday night with a 9-0 victory over the Gateway Community College Geckos, moving its overall record to 4-1 on the season. Sophomore forward Dauda Woodruff led the attack with his first ever hat trick in the match. 

"I was happy that we had an opportunity to finally get out and compete against someone other than ourselves tonight," Head Coach Andre Luciano said. "It was great that we were able to play a number of players this evening and for us to reward the guys. It was a clean game and I give Gateway a lot of credit for the way they competed for 90 minutes. Now, it's time to prepare for our Saturday match against Arizona Western."

Early and often was the motto for the Roughrider attack Tuesday night. Just over one minute into the game, sophomore forward Christopher Cornn started the scoring off with his first goal of the season with freshman defender Ivan Corral picking up the assist. 

Roughly ten minutes later, freshman speedster Jesse Maldonado scored off of his own rebound on a tough angled shot that he was able to bend in just before the right post. Maldonado's score was his fourth goal of the season. 

Four minutes later, the aforementioned Woodruff scored his first of three goals in the match with an assist from freshman defender Charlie Nunez. 

Three minutes after taking a 3-0 lead, the Roughriders struck again with a goal off the head of sophomore defender Jakob Larson. Woodruff and Maldonado cashed in with assists on Larson's second goal of the season. 

After the four scores in a 20 minute span, Yavapai went into halftime with a 4-0 lead. 

Three minutes into the second half, Maldonado speed and shifty moves allowed him to fake out a couple of defenders and the Gateway goalkeeper, leaving him with a yawning net and his second goal of the match and fifth of the season. 

Up 5-0 with 35 minutes left on the clock, Michal Mojzis scored his second goal of the season (also giving him goals in consecutive games) on a cross pass from Maldonado who picked up his sixth point of the night. 

With 27 minutes left in the match, Cornn scored his second goal of the match and season with Corral again cashing in on the assist for the duo's second connection of the night. 

Ten minutes after Cornn's second goal of the night, Woodruff scored his fourth goal of the season (also becoming the third Roughrider of the night to have a multi-goal game) on an unbelievable play. Freshman midfielder Brandon Pulido sent a cross pass in front of the net and saw Woodruff dive headfirst to the ball, redirecting it to the left side and past the Gecko goalkeeper. 

After the incredible play, with 11 minutes left to play, Woodruff finished off his spectacular game with his fifth goal of the season (tying him for the team-lead with Maldonado) and third of the match for the hat trick. 

Sophomore forward Josue Martinez saw Woodruff streaking down the middle of the field and fed him a perfect pass, giving Woodruff a 1-on-1 matchup with the goalkeeper which he promptly won before depositing his hat-trick goal to the back of the net. 

Woodruff's goal gave Yavapai a 9-0 lead which also doubled as the final score. The sophomore totaled seven points in the match edging out Maldonado by just one. The duo are tied for the team-lead in goals with Maldonado leading the Roughriders in points with 14. 

Up Next
The Roughriders are back in action against fellow Division 1 Region 1 foe, No. 17-ranked Arizona Western College, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Ken Lindley Field in Prescott.