Thompson’s Hat Trick Leads No. 5 Hoosiers Over Saint Louis, 5-0

Tuesday, October 25

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

9-1-6

Saint Louis

7-5-3

Saint Louis

Indiana

Thompson’s Hat Trick Leads No. 5 Hoosiers Over Saint Louis, 5-0

10/25/2016 9:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 5-ranked Indiana University men's soccer team defeated the Saint Louis Billikens, 5-0, on Tuesday night at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.

With the victory, Indiana improves to 9-1-6 on the season overall, while Saint Louis falls to 7-5-3 on the year. The five-goal winning margin in the largest in the series between the two teams in the 36-match history dating back to 1975.

Tanner Thompson was unstoppable for Hoosiers on Tuesday night, scoring three first-half goals to record his first career hat trick. St. Louis native Austin Panchot also netted a score for IU, while Andrew Gutman notched a goal in the second half.

Six different Hoosiers tallied assists in the victory on Tuesday – Grant Lillard, Billy McConnell, Timmy Mehl, A.J. Palazzolo, Rece Buckmaster and Trevor Swartz. IU goalkeeper Christian Lomeli made one save in registering his second-straight shutout.

Thompson's hat trick is the first for the Hoosiers since Nikita Kotlov had three goals against Xavier on Nov. 18, 2012. Indiana's five goals against Saint Louis were the most for the team since beating Dayton, 6-0, on Sept. 4, 2011.

In the 22^nd minute, Lillard played a long ball looking for a runner. The ball got behind the Saint Louis defense, allowing Thompson to toe-poke the ball around the charging Billikens' goalkeeper. Thompson's team-leading fifth goal of the season gave Indiana a 1-0 lead.

The Hoosiers were back on the attack in the 34^th minute and used a great bit of team passing to push the lead to 2-0. With the ball played over the top to the right end line, McConnell corralled the ball and passed back to Mehl in the 18-yard box, who one-touched the ball to Panchot. The sophomore cracked a shot from 15 yards out, beating the SLU goalie to the far left post for his second goal of the season.

Just over two minutes later, IU made it 3-0 over the Billikens. After the ball was played long from the Indiana half, Buckmaster flicked the ball forward to Palazzolo. The freshman then passed to a wide open Thompson in the middle of the 18-yard box, who beat the SLU keeper easily to the far left post.

In the 43^rd minute, Thompson netted another to record his first career hat trick. The senior weaved through the Saint Louis defense, creating room on the left side of the box. Thompson fired a rocket at goal, beating the SLU goalkeeper to the near post to give Indiana a 4-0 lead headed in to half time.

The Hoosiers continued the offensive onslaught in the second half, as Gutman netted his first of the season. Off a free kick from 25 yards out on the right side, Swartz sent a ball to the back post, finding Gutman, who headed the ball to the near post from six yards out, beating the goalie for the score, pushing the IU lead to 5-0.

For the game, Indiana out-shot the Billikens, 13-6, with IU getting five shots on goal to just one for Saint Louis. IU also had a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.

The No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers will host the No. 13 Michigan State Spartans on Senior Day at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.

For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.