MONMOUTH, ORE – The Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team played a rare mid-morning match on Saturday against Western Oregon where Raymundo Mendez had a hat trick in the first half for the Falcons, while a late goal from the Wolves pushed the result to a 3-3 draw.
"Ray was fantastic today, as he's been all season," head coach Kevin Sakuda said. "The third goal today was pretty special. He is such a handful up top with not only his individual ability to create but his ability to combine with his teammates."
Mendez made an impact immediately for the Falcons in the 6th minute of the match. Cameron Yriondo crossed a ball into the box that deflected off a WOU defender. Mendez was there to capitalize and snuck into the lower right corner to put the Falcons up 1-0.
SPU doubled its lead in the 17th minute. Orlando Erazo worked the ball toward the keeper from the left side of the field. He passed the ball to Mendez, who settled and ripped a shot past the WOU for another goal. The Falcons went up 2-0.
Mendez struck again before halftime. Brady Fendrich broke up the Wolves' possession and slid the ball to Mendez in the middle of the field. He played it to Joseph Van Horn on the right side of the field who got it back to Mendez. Surrounded by WOU defenders, Mendez created enough separation to score the hat trick. Mendez's third goal up the day put the Falcons up 3-1.
The Wolves answered with a goal in the 45th minute. The second half was tightly contested. WOU's Andres Labate scored the equalizer in the 85th minute. Neither team could find a game-winning goal in the final five minutes, as the Falcons and Wolves settled for the draw.
"It was a wild one at times today," Sakuda said. "The game was back and forth and there probably could've been three more goals for each team. Disappointing to concede late goals in each half but credit to Western Oregon for making it difficult today."
The Falcons return to Interbay Soccer Stadium next weekend for their final home matches of the year. They'll host Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. followed by Senior Day against the Wolves on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
