SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's soccer team got a hat trick from junior Patrick Luebben and scored three goals in a 6:17 span of the second half on Sunday to roar past Lock Haven, 5-1, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup from an overly balmy David See Field.
 
Shippensburg (3-3-2, 1-1-0 PSAC) erupted for its most goals in a match since a 6-0 conference victory over Pitt-Johnstown back on Oct. 31, 2014. Luebben's hat trick, meanwhile, is the first by a Raider since Derrick Roy on Oct. 25, 2013 against UPJ.
 
The Raiders held a 1-0 lead at the intermission on Sunday, with the only goal at the midway juncture being a penalty kick converted by Luebben in the 21st minute. The penalty kick was awarded after an opposing player was deemed to have committed a handball in the box.
 
Lock Haven (4-2-3, 2-1-1), a squad that has already earned conference points this season against Bloomsburg, Slippery Rock and UPJ, played Shippensburg to a 5-5 split in first-half shots and a 2-1 edge in first-half corner kicks. It was the decisive three-goal span of the second half, however, that tilted the momentum firmly in SU's favor.
 
The Raiders made it 2-0 in the 58th minute with a nifty sequence off a free kick by sophomore Colin Marks. The kick soared into the far back corner of the box, where senior Jamie Blair directed the ball onto senior Jan Striewe for the finish.
 
Four minutes later, Lock Haven was whistled a second time for committing a handball in the box. Luebben again converted the ensuing penalty, making it 3-0 Raiders.
 
In the 65th minute, junior Cole Kropnick caged his seventh goal of the season after receiving a splendid through ball from freshman Jonathan Benner. It was Benner's first collegiate point.
 
The Bald Eagles scored off a free kick with eight minutes to play, but the Raiders answered 47 seconds later to round out the scoring. Luebben achieved his hat trick with a toe-touch finish to cap off a passing sequence that began with sophomore Justin Chapuis and also went in the direction of Kropnick and sophomore Alejandro Fernandez along the way.
 
Junior Matt Harder made five saves in net for the Raiders.
 
Sunday's weather was not the most comfortable on the pitch, as temperatures rose above 85 degrees with mostly sunny skies. The two teams were afforded breaks by the officials midway through each half to remain properly hydrated.
 
Shippensburg hosts East Stroudsburg at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday from David See Field.