Torres is up to his old tricks

OXNARD — A second-half surge—and three more goals from freshman Isaac Torres—got Hancock College's men's soccer team off to a great start in Western State Conference play Friday.

Torres recorded his third hat trick of the season, and Nathan Nunez added two assists as the Bulldogs beat Oxnard 4-1 to open WSC play.

"We showed a lot of class, poise, and patience," said Hancock head coach Al Garcia.

Hancock improved to 7-3-3 overall.

Torres started the scoring in the 34th minute on an assist from Nunez, but the Condors caught Hancock's defense pushing up a few minutes later and tied the game at 1, where it stayed until halftime.

Early in the second half, Martin Burgos put Hancock ahead 2-1 with an assist from Kyle Beattie, and Torres netted his second and third goals of the game in the 84th and 86th minutes. Billy Barbaree assisted on Torres' second goal, and Nunez on the third.

"We had a lot of scoring opportunities to put the game away early," said Garcia. "In the second half, we stepped it up."

Torres now has 17 goals for the season.