HOUSTON – Junior forward William Akio recorded a hat trick to lead No. 25 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer team past Houston Baptist University (HBU) 4-0 on Friday at Sorrels Field. 
 
Akio's is the eighth player in program history to score at least three goals in a single match. Akio's three goals are the most goals scored for the program in a single match since Reynaldo Cisneros scored four goals against Northwood on October 17, 1997. 
 
UTRGV (7-2, 3-1 WAC) jumped out to the early lead on a goal from sophomore and Valley View alum Damian Magallan Jr. in the sixth minute.Sophomore Jan Engels sent a pass into the box before it was headed by senior Angel Lopez to Magallan Jr. for his first goal of the season.
 
Akio made it 2-0 UTRGV with his first goal of the match in the 14^thminute as he took the pass from Lopez to sneak it past HBU goalie Jorge Guzman.
 
In the 33^rdminute, Akio scored his second goal of the match to extend UTRGV's lead to 3-0 before adding another goal in the 40^thminute to put the cap on the scoring. Akio's hat trick gives him six goals on the season, which moves him into a tie with senior Kyle Edwards for the team lead.
 
UTRGV allowed just one shot on goal to HBU (3-7-0, 1-3-0 WAC) as senior Andy Rios made one save for his fifth shutout of the season and 10^thof his career.
 
UTRGV will be back in action on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Kansas City. 

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