BEREA – Behind Eric Bernabue’s second career hat trick, UPIKE men’s soccer broke through into the win column in commanding fashion Wednesday with a 5-2 win at NCAA Division III Berea.
Bernabue got a total of five shots on frame in the match, half of Pikeville’s 10 total, by far the most so far this season. Francisco Quiteno also scored, as well as a penalty kick goal.
It wasn’t all great from the start though, as the Mountaineers scored first in the 8th minute on a strike from Isaac Mendoza. From that point on, Anibal Navarro stopped six consecutive shots as UPIKE built up its lead with five unanswered goals.
Bernabue’s first goal came in the 23rd minute to tie the game on the Bears’ first shot on goal in the contest.
The match went to halftime in the 1-1 tie before the floodgates opened in the second half. UPIKE scored twice in a less than two-minute span early in the second half. The first was Bernabue’s second goal of the night, the latter of the two from Quiteno’s.
Another quick scoring burst, this one just over two minutes in length pushed the UPIKE lead to 5-1. The Bears put home the penalty kick in the 70th minute before Bernabue finished his hat trick.
Berea’s Junior Gyamfi scored shortly after cut the lead to the final score.
Backup goalkeeper Kaseem Wedderburn saw his first action of the season, logging the last 14 minutes and making a save.
UPIKE will try to turn the win into a winning streak on Sunday with a men’s and women’s doubleheader with Point Park at Bob Amos Complex. The men’s match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., weather permitting.
(SOURCE: UPIKE Sports Information)