MIDWAY, Ky. — George Spencer scored a hat trick in Midway's 10-0 non-conference win over UC Clermont at Midway Turf Field on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles won their fourth straight match, tying their longest winning streak from last season.
Midway (4-1-2) controlled the match from start to finish. The Eagles outshot UC Clermont (0-6) 37-1 and did not allow a single Cougar shot in the second half. Midway tied program records for most shots and shots on goal in a single game, putting 25 attempts on target.
The Eagles came out firing from the opening kickoff. Rhys Dickson opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the match, finishing with his right foot from five yards out. Less than five minutes later, Saleh Ekuchi netted his fourth goal in three games, scoring from eight yards out into the bottom-left corner.
Spencer completed his first career hat trick in the 69th minute to give the Eagles an 8-0 advantage. Ekuchi sent a centered ball into the box, where Spencer finished the opportunity. Spencer also recorded five shots on goal.
Dickson and Ekuchi tied for the game high with two assists apiece.
Ekuchi added his second goal before the end of the first half. In the 33rd minute, he fired a shot from more than 35 yards out into the upper portion of the net. It marked Ekuchi's second brace of the season, with both coming in his last three matches. He also finished with a game-high eight shots.
Goalkeeper Connor Vincent earned the clean sheet, stopping the only shot he faced.
Elijah Orren scored his first goal of the season in the 39th minute to give the Eagles a 6-0 advantage. Samuel Hurwitz played the ball past the Cougar defense, setting up Orren for a one-on-one opportunity. Orren finished from 11 yards out along the turf and into the middle of the net.
Orren struck again in the second half to extend Midway's lead to 9-0. Off a Dickson corner kick, Orren headed the ball home from inside the box to secure his third career brace.
Martiniano Sansone capped the scoring with a 28-yard strike off the crossbar and into the net, giving Midway its 10th goal of the afternoon.
Midway closed its non-conference schedule with a 4-1-2 record.
The Eagles will open River States Conference play on the road when they travel to Kentucky Christian University on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
About Midway University Athletics
Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.
