Box Score Freshman midfielder
Robert Malone recorded his second hat trick of the season to power Colorado College to a 4-0 victory at Austin College on Friday afternoon.
Malone struck for the only goal CC needed in the 11th minute, taking a backward pass from senior midfielder
Max Grossenbacher and drilling a shot past goalkeeper Michael Moran.
With the game-winning assist, Grossenbacher became the 28th Tiger to record 50 or more career points.
Colorado College guarded that lead until early in the second half when junior midfielder Nathan Anderson ripped a shot into the upper left corner from 20 yards after taking a touch from junior defender
Christian Wulff.
Just 2:07 later, Malone and Grossenbacher clicked for the second time, with Malone putting a shot in the upper left corner from 15 yards.
Malone closed out the scoring in the 70th minute when he banged a shot off the right post from the center of the box.
"We had a slow start to the game today," head coach
Scott Palguta said. "But once we found the opening goal we really played well. Our second half effort was one of the best of the season.
"Due to the rain and muddy conditions the game never was going to be pretty, but we played effective soccer and got the result we were looking for. Robbie Malone sparkled in the midfield and deserved his goals."
Grossenbacher became the first Tiger to record three assists in a game since Andrew Salazar accomplished the feat in a 5-2 win over the University of Dallas on Nov. 2, 2013.
Sophomore keeper
Theo Hooker stopped the only three shots he faced while posting his third consecutive shutout. He lowered his season goals-against average to a season-best 0.77.
The CC defense allowed only eight total shots while recording their third clean sheet of the season.
Colorado College improved to 12-2-2 overall and 10-1-1 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Tigers launched 15 shots in each half and had an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Moran made nine saves for the 'Roos in the first half. Joseph Khalaf stopped six of the nine shots he faced during the final 45 minutes.
Austin College slipped to 4-13-1 overall and 2-10-0 in conference play.
CC wraps up its road trip on Sunday at Centenary College.
