MERCED, Calif. - Juan Flores tallied a hat-trick to lead the University of California, Merced men's soccer team past William Jessup University in the 2021 home opener, 4-1 Saturday night in front of an electric Bobcat Field crowd.

Flores' hat-trick was the third of his career and with it he powered the Bobcats to their fifth straight home opening win dating back to the 2017 season.

Flores is one of just two Bobcats in program history to record three career hat-tricks, joining Artemio Contreras.

Also impressive, all three of Flores' goals occurred within the first 15 minutes of the second half. He netted the eventual game-winning goal in the 54th minute, while adding a second goal in the 56th minute and completing his hat-trick in the 61st.

UC Merced's Roberto Ceja opened up the scoring and netted the Bobcats first goal of the 2021 home campaign in the 13th minute. Ceja, who scored twice at Menlo a Saturday ago, received a long ball from Joshua Golka and took a couple touches to set up a straightaway shot from 25 yards out. 

Golka's assist to the Merced, Calif., native was the first of his career. 

Jessup answered with an equalizer 35 seconds later as Paolo Ionescu set up Isaac Morfin for a score.

The match remained 1-1 until Flores went into his hat-trick pursuit.

Flores' first goal of the hat-trick and also his seventh career game-winning goal came immediately off a Michael De La Cruz throw in. Flores took the ball in stride along the 18-yard marker and even with a defender on him, managed to rocket a left-footed shot past the diving keeper and into the back of the net. De La Cruz's assist was his first of the season.

Roughly 90 seconds later, Flores got behind Jessup's defense and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after receiving a through ball from Ceja. This time, Flores got inside the 18-yard box before grounding one into the right corner of the net.

Following the score, Flores ran to the corner flag to celebrate and was greeted by fellow All-American and Cal Pac Player of the Year Cody Golbad. Golbad played the four years prior to Flores' arrival in 2017.

Flores' most impressive goal of the night completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute. With two defenders on him and another collapsing, Flores split through the middle and fired a laser into the opposite corner. Andres Lua recorded his first assist of the season on Flores' final goal. 

The goal also finalized the game's scoring.

Flores' third career hat-trick follows his previous feats on September 28, 2017 and August 31, 2018.

The last two times head coach Albert Martins' squad took Bobcat Field there has been a hat-trick. Luis Villegas recorded a hat-trick on Bobcat Field on April 16, 2021 in the California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship win.

Overall, the Bobcats outshot Jessup 22-6 on Saturday night and won the corner kick battle 11-0. The eleven corner kicks was the most for the Bobcats since earning 14 in last season's opener on February 21, 2021.

Lua led the Bobcats with a career-high ten shots, five of which were on target. Flores recorded six shots.

Diego Fresquez, Nikolas Komatina and Brian Lua made their collegiate debut in the 4-1 win. Martins utilized 22 players overall.

Looking ahead, the Bobcats take part in the Master's Fall Classic in Santa Clarita, Calif., with a game scheduled against both Hope International University and The Master's University. First up, Hope International on September 16 at 1:30pm.