COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Senior forward Mackenzie Pridham registered the eighth hat trick in Cal Poly men’s soccer program history on Friday evening as the 23rd-ranked Mustangs matched a school record with their fifth successive victory, a 5-1 romp past Air Force inside Cadet Soccer Stadium.

Freshman winger Ari Lassiter added his third career goal and two assists for Cal Poly (7-2-0), which equaled the program record for consecutive wins set Oct. 14-30, 1994 and matched Sept. 2-21, 2012. Cal Poly’s 19 goals during its five-game streak also set a new program record for offensive productivity over a five-match span.

The Mustangs required just 96 seconds to post Friday’s opening goal as Lassiter picked out sophomore winger Chase Minter from the left side. Minter fired from 18 yards past Air Force goalkeeper Joey Speshock for his second career goal.

Pridham, ranked second in program history in multi-goal matches (four), third in goals scored (21) and fifth in total points (43), notched Friday’s game-winning strike nine-and-a-half minutes later following a right-sided feed from senior midfielder Mike Hocker. Pridham, who already has eight goals in nine games after scoring 11 times last year, fired into the top of the Air Force net from close range.

The Falcons (0-8-0), who had scored just once this season entering Friday’s affair, pulled their lone goal back on 14 minutes as freshman defender Blake Elder found junior forward Zachary Modly, who scored in front of the Mustang net to halve Cal Poly’s advantage.

Pridham, however, put Cal Poly up 3-1 in the 49th minute, as sophomore back Kip Colvey became the 10th Mustang this season to earn an assist with a pass from outside the Air Force penalty area.

“Tonight we scored a few excellent early goals through Chase and Mac. It was a perfect way to start, but then we gave up a goal that we shouldn't have,” eighth-year Cal Poly head coach Paul Holocher said. “We spoke at halftime about a few things and the team's second-half response was terrific. We created a handful of chances and then the three goals. We also had stretches of sustained possession, which was important to control the game from a transitional standpoint.”

Pridham, one of 34 players named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for most outstanding Division I player, rounded off the hat trick in the 56th as Lassiter threaded a pass through the center of the Falcon penalty area. Pridham fired to the right of Speshock to become the first Mustang since David Zamora on Oct. 24, 2009 to enjoy a three-goal game.

Lassiter finalized Cal Poly’s night in the 62nd with his third collegiate goal, a shot through the hands of Speshock from the right corner of the penalty area following a feed from Minter.

Cal Poly, which enjoyed four saves from sophomore goalkeeper Wade Hamilton, outshot Air Force 18-11.

The Mustangs conclude preparations for their Oct. 4 Big West Conference opener when visiting Denver on Sunday, Sept. 29. Match time against the Pioneers is set for 6 p.m. PT.

“We still have a lot we can improve on and we’re looking forward to what will be a terrific challenge on Sunday versus a quality Denver team,” Holocher added.

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