GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Lito Esquivel scored two goals and added an assist, Dzenan Catic recorded his third hat trick of the season and added three assists as the two upperclassmen piloted Davenport's top-ranked men's soccer team back on the winning track with an 8-0 home win over Siena Heights Saturday evening.
 
The Panthers bounced back after their upset at Aquinas Wednesday and improve to 12-2 overall, 5-1 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.
 
Davenport had a couple of good looks offensively but it wasn't until the 20^th minute it jumped ahead. Catic made excellent moves with the ball inside the box before slotting it into the right side. Catic would build a 2-0 lead on a penalty kick five minutes later.
 
Although he is the NAIA's leading goal scorer, Catic would help Esquivel net the third goal of the match right before halftime. After dribbling to the point where two defenders awaited him in the box, Catic made a short pass to Esquivel on the left side. Esquivel moved the ball toward the post and fired a shot to the right side.
 
The Panthers took a 4-0 lead five minutes into the second half when Esquivel's free kick from the left side sets up a perfectly timed header to Kevin LaCroix.
 
Catic hat trick would be complete in the 55^th minute. Tyler Fischer dribbled down the left flank before crossing over to Catic, who made several touches before sending it home and extend Davenport's lead to 5-0. Catic would then again help Esquivel knock in his second goal of the night in the 60^th minute followed by TJ Ifaturoti's in the 81^st before calling it a day.
 
In his collegiate debut, Chris Lang had two close chances to score his first goal but a third time was a charm as the freshman knocked in the eighth goal of the night off a cross by Collin Mohr in the 88^th minute.
 
Davenport dominated the shooting department 30-5 overall, 16-0 on goal. Aaron Orban played 67 minutes between the posts before handing the goalkeeping duties to Alex Ghattas.
 
The Panthers hit the road for three of its remaining matches in the regular season. DU doesn't have to travel afar for their next match, which is a drive down the Beltline to Cornerstone Wednesday at 7 p.m. DU's final home match is Oct. 29 against Northwestern Ohio.
 
Men's Soccer Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-554-5045 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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