Jason Cascio (, ) earned a hat trick and #5 scored four goals in the first 18 minutes of the second half to pull away with an 8-1 victory over Saint Martin’s Sunday afternoon in GNAC men’s soccer action at .
Midway through the first half, Cascio slipped a pass through the Saint Martin’s defense to Ian Walsh (, ), who blasted a shot past ’s goalie Zac Lubin for his third goal of the season. Walsh attempted to return the favor a minute later with a touch pass to Cascio, but the senior’s shot was stopped by Lubin.
continued to control the action, keeping the ball in the Saint defensive end. Sean Rawson () sent a throw-in towards Cascio, who corralled the ball and converted on his shot attempt for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Saint Martin’s answered back with just over five minutes remaining in the first half, as Chase Franklin’s shot was deflected by a Seattle defender past Jordan Jennings (Tacoma, Wash.) to cut the Redhawk advantage in half.
At the start of the second half, Rawson again set up Cascio, who chipped a shot over Lubin for his second goal of the contest. Cascio completed the hat trick by converting on a penalty shot after Cameron Mertens () was taken down in the box by Daniel Palermo, who was sent off with a red card for taking down Mertens on a breakaway.
The Redhawks scored two goals in the 63rd minute, as John Fishbaugher (, ) and Jake Ellig (, ) each scored to increase ’s lead to 6-1. Ellig set up Wesley Van Hooser () in the 69th minute for another goal, and a Van Hooser scoring chance turned into an own goal in the 71st minute to finish the scoring.
outshot ’s 21-3, including 12-2 in shots on goal. did not make a save but earned his sixth victory of the season. Max Walker (, ) played the final 24:40 in goal for the Redhawks, letting one shot past him, but that shot by Kramer Cross was sent away by Seattle defender David Raney (Lynnwood, Wash.) for a team save.
Seattle University (13-2, 5-1 GNAC) returns for its final two home matches of the regular season, as Western Washington comes to town Thursday, Oct. 25, and Incarnate Word visits Seattle Monday, Oct. 29. Both matches begin at 2:30 p.m. at Championship Field.