CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M senior Julio Vargas was a one-man highlight reel on Monday night as the Dallas native registered a hat trick as the Buffs topped the visiting ThunderWolves of Colorado State-Pueblo, 3-1 in the 2018 home opener at The Pitch in Canyon.
 
THE BASICS
The Matchup: West Texas A&M 3, Colorado State-Pueblo 1
Records: West Texas A&M (1-0-1), Colorado State-Pueblo (1-1-0)
Venue: The Pitch
Location: Canyon, Texas
 
The ThunderWolves got on the board first in the 25^th minute as Harrison Sikes registered his first goal of the season on a header for the early 1-0 lead. The Buffs responded right before the half (43') as Julio Hernandez tallied his second assist of the young season to Vargas on a misplayed ball by the CSUP keeper to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Vargas gave the Buffs the lead in the 63^rd minute as the senior connected from 25 yards out followed by his third goal of the night in the 81^st minute from Marius Longeanie for the 3-1 win. Colin Burgiel was impressive in his first career start in goal for the Buffs as the redshirt freshman registered one save in 90 minutes.
 
WT finished the match with 22 shots including 14 in the first half with 10 falling on goal, the Buffs registered all five corner kicks of the match while committing 11 fouls. The ThunderWolves finished the night with just four shots (two on goal) to go along with 12 fouls.
 
UP NEXT
The Buffs return to action on Saturday afternoon as they host the University of the Southwest Mustangs at The Pitch in Canyon starting at 1 p.m. CT.