NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Gabriel Machado improved his season total to five goals in just two games after his hat trick on Sunday led the No. 2 Monroe College men’s soccer team rolled to a 7-1 victory over Louisburg College in the finale of the CCBC Essex Tournament. Monroe comes out of opening weekend with a 2-0 record, while Louisburg heads home at 0-2.
Machado came out firing, netting the first goal of the game in the ninth minute to give the Mustangs an early edge. Cristian Valencia doubled the lead off an assist from Javier Rodriguez at the 25:28 mark. Machado netted his second of the day just seven minutes later after being set up by Felipe Mendes to give Monroe a 3-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Machado completed the hat trick in the 54th minute, giving the Mustangs a 4-0 lead early on in the second frame. Carlos Rodriguez netted his first 15 minutes later to make it 5-0. Louisburg’s Cristian Torres ended the Hurricanes’ drought with under four minutes to play, but Tsihoarana Rabestsimialona scored just 19 seconds later, and the Mustangs added one more in the last minute on an own goal to reach the 7-1 final.
Monroe goalkeeper Svyat Kozak got his first win in his first start of the year, stopping three shots to start the season 1-0. Gio Solis took the loss for the Hurricanes after yielding seven scores.
Machado was the player of the weekend for the Mustangs, totaling five goals after his game-high three netters on Sunday. Carlos Rodriguez, Valencia and Rabestsimialona each tallied their first goals of the year in the win. Mendes and Javier Rodriguez each handed out an assist.
The Mustangs tried 20 shots on Sunday, putting 12 of them on net, while the Hurricanes attempted eight, getting six of them on target. Louisburg earned four corner kicks, while the Mustangs managed three.
The Mustangs next play on Saturday, Sept. 2, when they host the Community College of Rhode Island in their home opener at City Park. Saturday’s contest is set to kick off at 7 p.m.