The Buffalo Soccer Team faced off with McMurry for the first time in school history on Friday, and it was a memorable game for WT soccer fans. The Buffs overpowered the War Hawks in every aspect of the game, coming out with a resounding 5-0 victory. Sophomore forward George Beasley had three of the home side’s five goals, finishing the night with a hat-trick.

It took only 25 seconds for the Buffs to get their fans excited, as junior midfielder Vitor Cardoso made a solo run, weaving in and out of defenders, and sending a shot just over the crossbar. The first half would continue on in the same fashion for quite some time, with the Buffs showing more attack than McMurry. The home side got their noses in front 40 minutes in, when junior midfielder Conrod Goulbourne blasted a shot into the corner of the net. This was his second goal on the season.

The score remained 1-0 at the break. The Buffs went into halftime happier with their performance than the War Hawks, as the home side outshot their opponents 12-3 in the first half.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were slow, with WT having more goal scoring chances. However, the Buffs gave their fans something to cheer about in the 63^rd minute, and the cheering never really stopped after that. Senior defender Michael Williams played in the ball from a free kick, which Beasley met with his head and tucked away in the back of the net, bringing the score to 2-0.

Less than 15 minutes later, a War Hawk defender was whistled for a handball in the box, giving the home side a penalty kick. Beasley stepped up to take the free shot, but the McMurry keeper, Neil O’Sullivan, made a spectacular save to deny the Buffs a 3-0 lead.

Just 33 seconds after the penalty shot, Beasley put the ball into the back of the net to get his second goal, and his team’s third, on the day.

Sophomore shot stopper Garrett Cooper had another rock-solid game in goal for the Buffs. He had three saves on the night, but in the 71^st minute, after the third goal, Coach Butch Lauffer sent in junior goalie Carlos Ruiz for Cooper to get some playing time.

Beasley netted once again in the 81^st minute, as junior Alfredo Chavez swung in a cross which Beasley met with his head, sending the ball past the diving O’Sullivan, giving the Buffs now had a comfortable 4-0 lead. The Buffs got their last goal in the 85^th minute when senior Carl Prestidge slipped the ball into the back of the goal.

The WT soccer team returns to action Thursday at 7 p.m., when they face Dallas Baptist at The Pitch in Canyon.