STAUNTON, Va. -Â The William Peace University men's soccer team defeated Mary Baldwin University 8-0 Tuesday afternoon, improving to 7-5-2 overall and 2-1-1 in USA South play. Freshman Chris Rodriguez led the Pacers with three goals and an assist, while Roberto Rayo added two goals and two assists.
Peace opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Rodriguez found the back of the net off an assist from Rayo. Rodriguez added his second goal just over two minutes later, assisted by Gabriel Faria Jr., to give the Pacers a 2-0 lead.
Rayo extended the lead in the 22nd minute, scoring his first goal of the afternoon off an assist from Rodriguez. Rodriguez completed his hat trick in the final seconds of the first half, converting a penalty kick to send Peace into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Rodriguez became the first Pacer to record a hat trick since Jorge Aguilar scored three goals against Regent University on Sept. 29, 2022, and is now the sixth player in program history to accomplish the milestone.Â
The Pacers continued their scoring in the second half when Topher Johnson found the back of the net in the 49th minute off an assist from Rayo. Rayo added his second goal in the 68th minute, assisted by Johnson, to extend the lead to 6-0.
Tambe Mboumein scored in the 73rd minute before senior Miguel Rodriguez converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to round out the scoring.
Peace finished with a 29-6 advantage in shots, 24 shots on goal, and 6-1 in corner kicks. Dallas Story and Griffin Thomas split time in goal, each recording one save to combine for the shutout.
The Pacers return home Sunday, Oct. 18, to host Greensboro College for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park, where Peace will recognize its five seniors: (3)Â Joey Hurley, (6) Gavin Beaupre, (8) Josh Eatmon, (13) Gerardo Escobar and (24) Miguel Rodriguez.
