Non-conference schedule to finish Saturday; next stop Conference opener
Ariel De Dios Cruz and Luis Siebenhaar scored two goals apiece as the Southern Oregon men’s soccer team poured it on in a 7-0 win against Simpson (California) on Thursday afternoon at Raider Stadium’s Laurel Field.
The Raiders, after receiving votes in this week’s NAIA Top 25 coaches’ poll, put up their highest goal total in two years while peppering the Red Hawks with 40 shots. They upped their record to 4-0-1, marking their best start since 2021.
De Dios Cruz notched his fifth and sixth goals of the season in the 15th and 17th minutes, converting a penalty kick before finishing a slick pass from Daniel Palomino. Siebenhaar also tallied his goals within a two-minute span in the second half, making a PK of his own and taking an assist from Papa Yansane.
Yansane recorded a pair of assists, his first points as a Raider, first to Siebenhaar and then to Mustafa Daggig for the Raiders’ final goal in the 62nd minute.
The Raiders led 4-0 by the end of the first half, where they followed De Dios Cruz’s punches with goals from Harry Cullen, unassisted, and Irwin Leon, via Daggig.
De Dios Cruz, a junior from Eugene, has had goal involvements in all five games. Only one Raiders has done so in six straight: All-American Adrian Villegas, who completed the feat as a freshman in 2019.
Simpson (0-4) mustered two shots. SOU keeper Casey Ruvolo needed to make his only save in the first half.
The Raiders finish their non-conference schedule 6 p.m. Saturday at Soka (California). After that, they’re off until their Cascade Conference opener Sept. 19 in Ashland against Evergreen (Washington).
This story first appeared on the Southern Oregon University Sports Information website, souraiders.com.
