Drovers Route Northwood

CHICKASHA – Rafael da Silva entered an elite group of players Thursday afternoon.

The sophomore from Brazil collected a hat trick in the Drovers’ 6-0 win over Northwood joining a group of six players from the University of Science and Arts to net three goals in one game.

USAO, ranked No. 25 in the country, rolled to a 2-0 record by beating Bacone and Northwood by a score of 10-0. Still, the team has only allowed one goal in the previous six games dating back to last season.

Silva, who now has four goals this season, broke a scoreless tie in 47th minute Thursday from a perfectly placed cross by Wesley Costa. He scored in the 54th minute on a pass from Nene Coulibally and the route was on. Silva’s final goal of the day came on a break-away in the 84 minute to give USAO a 6-0 lead.

Lost in the hat trick was a performance by Coulibally that nearly put him into the record book as well. The senior from West Africa scored in the 57th minute to give USAO a 3-0 lead, and his three assists – setting up goals by Silva, Tommy Hubbard and Pinny Nijjar – left him one assist shy of tying the school record.

The Drovers will take its perfect record on the road for a matchup at Bethany College on Tuesday.

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