Sept. 10, 2003

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - After beginning the season 0-2-2 against four very formidable opponents, the Lewis University men's soccer team needed a victory in the worst way.

Despite allowing a scant six goals in those first four outings, the Flyers managed to find the net just four times themselves against Eastern stalwarts Southern Connecticut State and Franklin Pierce and Central Region rivals Truman State and Rockhurst.

Cathal Brady (Dublin, Ireland/St. Peters College Dunboyne) took matters into his own hands - feet, that is -- and changed all that Wednesday.

The speedy, relentless freshman forward from Dublin, Ireland, burned the University of St. Francis defense for five goals to power the Flyers to a 6-1 victory at the Lewis Soccer Field.

The 5-foot-6, 123-pound Brady, who now has six goals on the season, already had a hat trick with just under 13 minutes to play in the first half as Lewis built a 4-1 halftime cushion.

He added two unassisted goals in the first four minutes of the second half, and Lewis head coach Evan Fiffles started emptying his bench.

Gabe Leon (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) actually got the ball rolling for the Flyers with his first goal of the season (unassisted) at 6:25. Brady scored the first of his fabulous five unassisted at 12:10, then gave Lewis a 3-0 lead with assists from Joliet Township product Tito Lara (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Central) and Leon on a corner kick at 19:12.

Piotr Chrobak provided the Saints' only offense of the day at 31:28. Chrobak took a long feed from Noah Parra, carried the ball several yards and beat Flyer goalkeeper Jordan Gustman (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah).

It took Brady less than a minute to counter. He registered his third goal at 32:06 with an assist from Justin Sanabria (Skokie, Ill./Niles North).

Gustman played 72:15 and faced just one shot on goal. Danny Alvarado (Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick), making his first collegiate appearance, finished up for the Flyers and made one save.

Sean Porter started in goal for USF (0-5) and yielded Lewis' first three tallies. Ben Orris allowed three goals and made six saves over the final 67:30.

Lewis outshot St. Francis 33-15 and earned a 12-1 edge in corner kicks.