REDDING, Calif. — JP Warnell only needed three shots and 49 minutes for a hat trick in his Raider debut as the Southern Oregon men's soccer team earned a 4-1 victory over Simpson (Calif.) on Saturday night.
Warnell – a junior transfer from Cal Poly Humboldt – tallied his first goal in the 12th minute, tapping in a one-touch pass from Esmatullah Yawari just outside the six-yard box. In the 20th, the forward capitalized on a Simpson miscue, intercepting a pass that was intended for Red Hawk keeper Jesus Montoya and delivering a left-footed strike past him.
The Raider lead was halved to 2-1 after David Clavijo scored a 60th minute goal to put Simpson on the board. In the 82nd, Jonathan Gaspar bent in the reassurance goal toward the right post a few steps inside the 18, assisted by a Nick Lozano cross.
Minutes later, Davis Cameron sent a through ball, leading to a breakaway for Warnell and his third goal (88') of the night.
SOU produced 17 shots and put nine on goal. Simpson finished with five shots on goal, but Daniel Espinosa's four saves kept them on one score. The redshirt freshman from Mexico played all 90 minutes in his Raider debut.
Southern Oregon men's soccer hasn't lost a season opener since 2019.
They'll travel to Arizona next week, playing Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) on Friday and Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) on Sunday.