SALEM, W.Va. (Sept. 3) – The Tigers earned a dominating 9-0 win over Pikeville in the season- and home-opening game Thursday afternoon at Catalano Stadium.
 
The Salem International University Men's Soccer team (1-0) tallied five first half goals and added four more in the second frame to cruise to the win over the Bears (0-2).
 
Senior Javier Ruiz (Mexico City, Mexico/Universidad del Valle de Mexico) tallied four goals, including a natural hat trick, in the victory, while sophomore Dom Gillespie (Whitley Bay, England/Whitley Bay) chipped in two of his own. Sophomores Jacob Kemlock (Oak Hill, W.Va./Oak Hill) and Alejandro De la Macorra (Mexico City, Mexico/Cleguo Vista Hermosa) and junior Alexandre Costet (Saint Etienne, France/Leonard de Vinci) each chipped in a goal apiece in the rout.
 
Ruiz got the scoring frenzy started early with a goal in the first two minutes of the match. The Tigers then scored three times within a four minute stretch midway through the first half to pull out to a 4-0 lead by the 26-minute mark of the game. Salem International cruised from there, netting five more goals to earn the season-opening win.
 
The Tigers dominated possession from the beginning, attempting 30 shots as opposed to the two taken by Pikeville.
 
Salem International returns to their brand new pitch at Catalano Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 6 when they host Tiffin for a 1 p.m. kickoff.