RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's soccer team looked sharp Sunday afternoon as the Hardrockers opened the season with a victory over Morningside College, 4-1, in a non-conference bout at Sioux Park Stadium in Rapid City, S.D.

"Really happy to see the boys put in the work to get a result," said Hardrocker men's soccer head coach Andrew Conniff. "There were large parts of the match that we didn't execute the way we had in training, but we ultimately limited their chances and made some really good ones for ourselves."

The Mustangs had difficulty with the 'Rockers aggressive style of play and had fits with SD Mines forward Ian Debois. The senior from Maple Grove, Minnesota, recorded his first ever hat trick at the college level  scoring the first goal of the game (and the season) along with two penalty kicks over the 90 minutes of play.

Debois first goal came at 17:29 mark when junior forward Justin Barkow advance a ball to Debois who fired in past Morningside's goalkeeper. That marked the only goal of the period.

In the final 45 minutes, freshman George Martinez scored a goal during the 48^th minute and sophomore Noah McKenzie was credited with an assist to give the 'Rockers a 2-0 advantage. Debois added his second goal at the 50:10 mark off a penalty kick and then earned the hat trick off a successful penalty kick attempt at the 72:56 mark.

Morningside's lone goal came in the 68^th minute off an unassisted goal credited to Moritz Lusch.

SD Mines finished the game with 12 total shots, six were on goal while the Mustangs tallied nine shots, six were on goal.

Debois closed out the day with four shots, all on goal; Barkow finished with four shots, Martizez and junior Owan Winger both were credited with one.

Hardrocker goalkeeper senior Kyle Daledovich earned five saves in the contest while Morningside's Pedro Fernades recorded two saves.  
 
"Excited to see Ian start off the season this way and for George to get his first collegiate goal," Conniff said. "Kyle made some big saves in the first half that may have changed the course of the game. I wish we had been able to get him a clean sheet but Morningside scoring is a good reminder we have room to improve defensively"