By: Scotty Grigsby  

CIU men's soccer opened AAC conference play against the Skyhawks of Point University on Saturday night. After a 0-2 start to the season, the Rams bounced back with a 5-2 victory over the Skyhawks.  

The game would start with a back and forth battle between the Rams and Skyhawks with 5 total goals being scored in the first half. Ram's forward Romulo Barreto would put the Rams on the board with a goal in the 14th minute. The Skyhawks would answer 4 minutes later with a goal from Lucas Conca to draw even. Point would score again in the 32nd minute with a goal from Guillermo Sofio. The 2-1 point lead would only last for 5 minutes when Rams forward Marcos Da Paz scored on a ball from Rolomo Barreto. Thirty seconds after Da Paz's goal, Praise Kwabe would give CIU back the lead with a goal in the 36th minute. The Rams would lead the Skyhawks 3-2 going into halftime.  

CIU would dominate the second half with 9 total shots, 4 of which were on net. Point would hold off CIU's attack for much of the second half until a pair of goals in the 85th and 88th minute from CIU forward Marcos Da Paz earning him a hat trick on the night. "The team worked hard this week and we are very happy to get a result tonight," said CIU head coach Bill Brindley.  

The Rams look to carry this momentum to their next match at Kentucky Christian on September 14th.