FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's soccer team opened its 2017 WHAC campaign with a bang, netting three goals in the first 18 minutes, en route to a 7-0 win over the visiting Concordia Cardinals. Tech (5-3, 1-0 WHAC) outshot CU 18-7 and freshman Edwin Rosado and the defensive unit pitched their first shutout of the season.
 
"It is important to play well at home and to get three points in the opening conference game. We started well and never really lost control of the match," Indiana Tech head coach David Bokhart said. "We got everyone involved and really played the match with a level of composure that we can carry into the rest of league play."
 
Oswaldo Segura Diaz opened the scoring in the sixth minute, connecting on a close-range side volley. Midfield mate Ruben Leonardo doubled the advantage only 2:22 later as he rifled a quick restart from Andrew Higgins into the bottom corner of the net from outside the penalty area. Brennan Cochran capped the early spree with the first of his three goals at the 18:02 mark, scooping in from the doorstep after two initial saves from CU goalkeeper Spencer Ward.
 
Richard Doll came off the bench for the first time in 2017 and quickly got into the act, netting his first goal at 34:57 following a Leonardo through pass for the 4-0 halftime lead.
 
CU had the first chance of the second half, but Rosado was up to the task with a kick-save. Immediately after that chance was thwarted, the Warriors extended the lead to 5-0 as Higgins and Ryan Hayhurst teed up Cochran for his second goal on a set piece.
 
Cochran completed the hat trick on a feed from rookie Johender Mendoza at 63:54 before Mendoza finished his first goal in Orange and Black five minutes later to round out the scoring. 
 
The Warriors return to Tech Field on Wednesday, Sept. 27 in a 7 PM WHAC match versus UM-Dearborn. Tech knocked off UMD 4-1 in Brighton, Mich., a year ago, but the Wolverines won the last match between the foes played at Indiana Tech back in 2014.