LA VERNE, CA — Jovanni Garcia scored a hat-trick, the Leopards dominated possession, and the University of La Verne men's soccer team rolled past the Saint Katherine Firebirds 4-0.
Season Impact
La Verne could not have asked for a better start. The Leopards open the year 3-0, their best start to a season since they won five straight to open 2015. The Leopards have outscored their opponents 13-2 during the stretch.
Saint Katherine falls to 1-4.
Making A Difference
Garcia has an immediate impact for the green and orange. The junior has scored in every game so far this season and currently boats 14 points with five goals and four assists.
Goals
Garcia got the Leopards on the board in the 32nd minute, capitalizing off a sharp pass from Johnny DeRueda to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Leopards rolled in the second half.
James Coe added a highlight-reel goal of his own to extend the Leopards' lead to 2-0 midway through the second half. The junior set up for a corner, passed it short to Cesar Rodriguez, looped around his teammate, got the ball back from Rodgriguez, and struck the ball for the form the top corner of the box past the keeper.
Coe has also gotten off to a fast start for La Verne, already amassing three goals and an assist.
Rodriguez kept on dished out another assist in the 88th minute to Garcia to add the dagger. Garcia completed the hat-trick in the final minute of the game after securing a pass from Ryan Mendoza.
Rene Gonzalez picked up three saves in the win.
Next Game
The Leopards head to Oregon for a two-game stretch, first on Friday against George Fox followed by a Sunday match against Pacific.
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