NEW ULM, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's soccer team defeated Martin Luther College 8-0 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play Tuesday afternoon in New Ulm, Minn. Senior Aaron Mackall set a program record by scoring four goals in a single game.
 
The Cougars improved to 3-4-1 overall and 1-1 in UMAC play, while the Knights fell to 0-7-1 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
 
"Our guys were focused from the start of the match with an early goal," said head coach Blake Ordell. "They are applying the tactics we've been working on and I'm really proud of the guys for bouncing back from our last match."
 
It didn't take long for the Cougars to find the back of the net. Within the first four passes, Guillaume Hensgens had the ball near the box and fired a shot that found the top right corner for his first collegiate goal. After intercepting a pass, Jake Anargyros sent a ball forward to Aaron Mackall, who drove into the box and doubled the Cougars' lead. Nick Isensee then delivered a goal kick to the opposite side of the field, finding Mackall in space. The senior had no defenders in front of him and buried his second goal in the 21st minute.
 
The scoring continued as Minnesota Morris earned a free kick just outside the box. Whitaker Root fired a powerful shot that beat the keeper at the near post, netting his first goal of the season and sending the Cougars into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
 
Mackall had a chance to complete his hat trick early in the second half when he went one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was saved. Just two minutes later, he capitalized on another opportunity to secure his first career hat trick at Minnesota Morris. Six minutes after that, Mackall scored his fourth goal of the game, setting a new program record.
 
With 20 minutes remaining, the Cougars continued to press forward with strong passes from the midfield. A cross found Anargyros, whose initial shot was saved, but he collected the rebound and slotted home the seventh goal. Later, after being taken down inside the box, Brett Bartkowicz stepped up and converted the penalty kick to cap the scoring at 8-0.
 
The eight goals were the most in a game for the Cougars since the 2013 season, when they scored 11. Mackall set the new program record with four goals. Root, Hensgens, and Bartkowicz each scored their first goals of the season, with Hensgens' goal marking his first collegiate tally. Anargyros scored his third of the year and added two assists. Root also picked up an assist, and goalkeeper Nick Isensee recorded his first collegiate point with an assist of his own.
 
Minnesota Morris tallied 13 shots on goal, with Mackall leading the way with four. Isensee earned his third clean sheet of the season, making four saves.
 
The Cougars continue their road trip Saturday at the University of Wisconsin–Superior, with kickoff set for 2 p.m.