PORTLAND | Brennan Murphy scored four goals in Warner Pacific's 6-2 victory over Bushnell on Tuesday. The Knights end the regular season with an 11-3 (7-3 CCC) record; the program's best finish since 2009 and a result that proves hopeful for an at-large bid for the NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament. Teams are set to be announced on Monday, April 19^th at 10am PDT. Should the Knights get a bid, it would be the program's first appearance in over a decade.

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The Rundown
"With the exception of a 3 minute lapse in the second half, it was a great performance for our final conference match on senior day" said Knights head coach Troy Ready.

The Knights jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead scoring back-to-back goals off of 16 shots, coming in the 22^nd and 25^th minute. Brennan Murphy opened the lid on the net with a flicked in header from a cross ball from Captain Hunter VanCleave. Just two minutes later, Juan Gudino, following off of a deflected Arturo Bahena shot attempt managed to tap the ball in.
 
Heading into the break, Warner Pac claimed a 2-0 lead.  
 
In the 57^th minute, Nick Evans made a streak towards the goal for what looked would be the third goal of the day when Beacon keeper Julian Hernandez attempted to make a play on the ball but caught the foot of Evans. Hernandez was called for the caution and Brennan Murphy stepped up to take and sink the penalty kick. Knights lead 3-0 with thirty minutes to play.
 
In the final 17 minutes of the match, five goals were scored: two Bushnell goals and three Warner Pacific.
 
Bushnell's Ethan Crofts got it started in the 73^rd minute with a free kick from 26 yards out, weaving the ball past the Warner Pacific four-man wall and through the hands of Knights Keeper Luis Hernandez.
 
Just ninety seconds later in a broken up defensive battle, Bushnell's Kyle Aure found himself inside the 18-yard box and after two deflections, snuck the ball behind Hernandez's back. Suddenly it was a one point match with 15 minutes to go.
 
Keeping it exciting, in the 77^th minute, Warner Pacific defender Kai Flugel sent a ball over the heads of nine Beacons to find the feet of Brennan Murphy. With a one touch gather, Murphy sent the ball to the far post and the junior from Spokane, Washington had notched his first hat trick of his Warner Pacific career. As if three weren't enough, Murphy went ahead to add one more goal to the stat sheet receiving a serve from Mauricio Sanchez for the thrifty flick, extending the lead to 5-2.
 
The night cap of the match came from a cross ball from senior Jose Ramirez to the far post where the ball met the head of Cesar Lopez Hernandez in the 87^th minute.
 
Nine different Warner Pacific players made their mark on the stat sheet on the day, "We had several players stepping up in a variety of ways" Ready said. "Isai Juarez-Mendoza played a full 90 minutes in a match where other central midfielders were out injured. Brennan Murphy began the scoring with a fantastic header and finished the day on four goals" he said.
 
The head coach in his fourth season emphasized the overall effort to ensure the Knights came away with the victory. "Alex Nana had another big game as a steady presence in the midfield" he added. He finished with credits to his seniors, "all of our seniors made important contributions in today's victory. Senior Brandon Medrano logged another inspiring 90 minutes while Senior Breno Senna-Araujo continued to make strides forward in his return to match fitness and Senior Jose Ramirez capped off the day with a perfectly served assist that was headed in by Cesar Lopez-Hernandez." 
 
Deeper Look
Murphy's four goals were the most scored in a single game by any one player this season
Luis Hernandez moves to 5-0 on the season with just three goals allowed in 430 minutes
Arturo Bahena led all players with two assists on the day
 
Flash Forward
The Knights will await eagerly and patiently for the announcement of the at-large bids for the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships on Monday, April 19^th at 10am PDT.