McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Pacing his team with three goals and eight shots, Rolando Velazquez's 62-minute hat trick gave the visiting Corban Warriors a 4-0 nonconference win over the Linfield Wildcats Sunday night at the Linfield Soccer Field.
 
The match marked the Wildcats' final contest before the start of Northwest Conference play.
 
First Half
Velazquez came close to to putting the Warriors on the board just 9:55 into the match as the winger saw his shot ricochet off the post and out, keeping the game deadlocked at 0. Just 1½ minutes later, Austin Bebee whipped a ball into the Corban box to the feet of Chase Whittaker at the top of the 18-yard box. The midfielder's attempt also caromed off the post and back into play, where the Corban defense cleared it safely away.
 
The Warriors drew first blood in the 34th minute when Velazquez received a through ball that slipped him into a one-on-one confrontation against Wildcats goalkeeper Cameron Perron. The midfielder took one touch toward goal and calmly slotted it past Perron, putting his side in front 1-0.
 
Three minutes later, Alex Segovia converted the Warriors' second goal, slipping a right-footed shot past an oncoming Perron.
 
Second Half
Velazquez completed his hat trick in the second period, converting goals in the 56th and 62nd minute. His efforts in the second half capped off a 27-shot game for the Warriors, nine of which were on goal.
 
Leading Wildcats
Isaias Flores led the hosts with three shots. Whittaker attempted two. Linfield managed just six shots, the closest coming off of Whittaker's first-half attempt that struck the post. Perron finished with five saves.
 
Top Warriors
Segovia was the lone Corban player to score aside from Velazquez. Segovia, Timur Zhividze and Wade Coetzee each recorded three shots. Velazquez finished with eight shot attempts.
 
What It Means
Linfield ends non-conference play with a 2-2 record. As for the Warriors, they enter their Cascade Collegiate Conference schedule with a 4-1-1 mark.
 
Ahead
The Wildcats open conference play this coming weekend, hosting the defending NWC champion Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Saturday. The following day, Linfield battles Puget Sound. Both contests are scheduled for noon.