SALT LAKE CITY - Adam Koblanski scored two late goals including one from the penalty spot in the final ten minutes to cap off a hat-trick performance in a 6-0 win for Westminster men's soccer (5-6, 2-1 RMAC) over Adams State (1-9, 0-3 RMAC) on Friday night at Dumke Field.
As the heavy rain from the afternoon subsided, the Griffins took advantage of the ideal conditions early as
Cole Kartchner netted his second goal of the season on an assist from forward,
Max Bingman. Westminster continued to control the run of play through the first half and in the 29th minute,
Skyler Kjellander flew a ball into the Grizzlies' penalty area that found the feet of Bingman who slipped a hard low shot past goalkeeper, Zach Carr, to put Westminster ahead, 2-0.
Following a late first-half substitution for Westminster,
Karter Cook and
Adam Koblanski combined for a headed finish to put Westminster on top, 3-0, just moments after each had come on to the pitch.
The Griffins, who finished the match with a 17-7 advantage in total shots and an 11-1 advantage in shots on goal, kept Adams State out of the offensive third for large stretches of the second half as
Ian Rose was forced into just one save to earn his second shutout of the season.
With fouls adding up late in the match, Koblanski was sent to the penalty spot in the 86th minute and converted to give Westminster a commanding 4-0 lead.
Koblanski finished off his hat trick just seconds later as the Grizzlies quickly lost possession and a quick Griffins' counter ended in a third goal for the midfielder from Skyline High School.
Although Westminster had the game at hand, Adams State continued to leave space at the back and
Ted Scott lifted a perfect ball across the field onto the feet of J.C. Vasquez who finished off the offensive explosion with a sixth Westminster goal in the game's final minutes.
The 6-0 win was the biggest win for Westminster since a 7-0 home win over CSU Pueblo back in October of 2018. The Griffins also put up seven goals in a 7-0 road win at Colorado Christian earlier that year.
The Griffins will look for back-to-back home wins on Sunday when they face Fort Lewis College beginning at 2:30 p.m.
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