Hat Trick Hero Flores Chosen as CCAA Player of the Week
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Gerardo Flores came off the bench to produce a hat trick and a brace, netting five goals for red-hot Cal State San Bernardino and earning his just reward as the CCAA Player of the Week for Oct. 7-13.
The freshman striker tallied the first goals of his college career to move into sole possession of the top spot on the scoring chart for the nationally-ranked Coyotes, now winners of four straight while outscoring opponents, 12-1.
Flores struck for the hat trick in a 6-1 win at Stanislaus State on Friday. The visitors already held a 2-0 lead through a pair of eighth-minute goals within a 28-second span, when the Hughson product stepped on the scene at 36:41. Flores added a score just over four minutes later for a 4-0 halftime bulge, before completing his hat trick in the 57th, latching onto a Jeronimo Valdapena cross at the far post.
Flores then managed Cal State San Bernardino’s first two goals in a huge 3-0 victory Sunday at Chico State, which had entered the weekend a victor of 10 consecutive home games, nine of them in shutout fashion. He half-volleyed in a long throw-in off a single bounce in the 52nd minute. Within seven minutes, Flores had doubled the advantage, finishing off a free-kick organization with a one-timed shot just inside the post.
All seven of Flores’ credited shot attempts over the two contests, were on frame. His was the fifth hat trick in the CCAA this season, and first by a Coyote.
Cal State San Bernardino, now 7-1-1 overall at the conclusion of a daunting nine-game, season-opening road stretch, finally makes its home debut this week. In a three-way tie for second in the league table, the Coyotes play host to No. 3 Cal State LA on Thursday afternoon, and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday.
Also nominated:
Brett Jones, UC San Diego
Tim Klefisch, Cal State LA
London Lombana, San Francisco State
Juan Salazar, Cal State San Marcos
Jimmie Villalobos, Cal Poly Pomona