Mata Records Hat Trick to Lead Kathleen Over Thunder

Thu. December 13, 2012 at 2:00 a.m. | By Nathan Halverson

Kathleen's Diego Rodea (10) and Lake Region's Carlos Tuvien (7) go up for a header. (Photo by PAUL CRATE | LEDGER MEDIA GROUP )

By NATHAN HALVERSON

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

EAGLE LAKE | Sophomore Gildardo Mata Jr. had a hat trick as Kathleen came from behind to defeat Lake Region 4-3 Thursday night in a Class 4A, District 7 game.

Around 50 fans showed up at the Field of Thunder as the two teams went back and forth the entire game. The score was tied 2-2 at halftime.

Mata's third goal was the game winner for Kathleen from about 8 yards out with 2:44 remaining in the game.

Earlier, Mata scored the first goal of the night a little over four minutes into the game from 20 yards out and scored his second goal on a header about 3 yards out.

"They (Thunder) got a hard team," Kathleen forward Mata Jr. said.

It was the first loss of the season for the Thunder (8-1-1, 7-1-1). The Red Devils improve to 9-4 overall and 7-3 in the district.

Fernando Rodea scored the other goal late in the first half for Kathleen and also added two assists, while teammate Diego Rodea added one assist.

The Thunder were without senior forward Brent Moore, who leads the team with 13 goals. He sustained a pulled right hamstring against Ridge Community on Dec. 4 and missed his second consecutive game.

Moore hopes to be ready for the Thunder's next game against George Jenkins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Eithan Garcia, Francisco Gonzalez and Bryan Rounds scored one goal apiece, while teammate Juan Esteban Campos contributed one assist for Lake Region. Garcia also added an assist for the Thunder.

Garcia scored with just under 31 minutes remaining in the first half from 10 yards out to tie the score 1-1. Gonzalez scored four minutes later on an assist from Campos to put the Thunder up 2-1.

Rounds scored on a header three yards out early in the second half on an assist by Garcia to put Lake Region up 3-2.

"I still believe in my team," Lake Region head coach Mike Balata said.

Kathleen will host St. Petersburg Catholic 7:30 p.m., tonight.