KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman Men's soccer team defeated Southwest Baptist 5-3 in their 2022 GLVC opener. Mac Knudsen and Luke Payne had historic games in the win. Knudsen led the way with a hat-trick and an assist, and Payne had three assists and a goal.

SBU's Xavier O'Garro got the Bearcats on the board first with a goal 5:44 into the game. 

Mac Knudsen and Sam Newton quickly shifted the momentum in Truman's favor within a 12-minute span. Knudsen scored a header off a Jack Knust cross 12:54 into the game, then again 24:26 in with Luke Payne assisting. Newton scored 23 seconds later off another Luke Payne assist.

With 40:00 left in the second-half, Newton whipped a free-kick into the box that deflected off Payne and Knudsen tapped in to complete the hat-trick.

Bearcats' Ignacio Masalli and CJ Lacy scored a goals to cut the Truman lead to one with assists by David Sanchez and Francisco Rojas with 20:00 left in the game.

Luke Payne put the game to rest with a gorgeous chip shot over the SBU keeper with 5:00 left in the game. Knudsen assisted the goal with a nice pass.

The last Truman player to score a hat-trick was by Matt Yankowitz against SBU on September 8, 2018. Chris Mansfield was the last Bulldog to record three assists in a game on September 6, 2013 against Iowa Wesleyan.

The Bulldogs' record stands at 2-1-1. 

Truman plays at Missouri S&T Friday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m.