CLAREMORE, Okla. – Senior Niall Masterson led the Rogers State men's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Harding (Ark.)  Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.
 
Masterson, a Dublin, Ireland native, tallied all three of RSU's goals in the contest, recording his first career hat trick as a Hillcat. He put the Hillcats on the board in the 22nd minute as Carson Lynn started the sequence, playing the ball first-time to Danko Kenjic who slotted it through the defense. Masterson ran onto the ball and shot it past the keeper, registering his first goal of the season.
 
The Hillcats held the one-goal lead at intermission with help from sophomore goalkeeper Cody Gammill who made two saves before the break to preserve the RSU lead.
 
Lars Lindtner won the ball and dribbled to the end line, dishing the ball to the middle of the box for Masterson who came streaking in and blasted the ball first-time past the keeper in the 55th minute to double RSU's lead.   
 
Masterson's final goal was untouchable as he bent the ball, upper-90 back post, from a free kick 35 yards out leaving the keeper no chance to make the save in the 71st minute.   Less than a minute later, Masterson had a chance to tally a fourth goal but it rattled off the crossbar.
 
Gammill made back-to-back saves in the 76th minute to keep the Bisons scoreless. With four saves in the game the Frisco, Texas native helped RSU earn its second consecutive shutout of the season.
 
Tyler Melson allowed all three goals and took the loss for Harding. RSU outshot the Bisons 12-8 in the contest.
 
Rogers State (3-1) looks to continue its three-game win streak Thursday as the Hillcats return to action at home against Southern Nazarene at 7:30 p.m.  The game will be streamed on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.