College roundup: Dixon nets first hat trick

Roberts helps UNC-Wilmington clinch second straight CAA title

By Jonathan Yardley / HoustonDynamo.com

Alex Dixon scored the first hat trick for a UNC player since 2005 in a 7-0 win. (UNC Athletics)

The Houston Dynamo Player Development System, presented by StatoilHydro, includes a number of collegiate players on the team's Home-Grown Player List. Many of these players have already practiced with the Dynamo first team while in Houston, a unique and invaluable opportunity afforded to Dynamo Academy players.

During the college soccer season, HoustonDynamo.com and MyDynamo.net will be keeping tabs on these players. Here's the latest news from collegiate players through games of November 3:

Four different teams with Dynamo players are represented in the NSCAA national top 25: No. 2 North Carolina, No. 14 Tulsa, No. 19 Stanford, and No. 21 UNC-Wilmington. This weekend marks the end of the regular season for most schools, with a conference tournament to follow before the NCAA tournament.

Juniors:

• MF Daniel Roberts (UNC-Wilmington / Fort Bend Clements / Texans) - Has moved to forward in recent games, keying Seahawks' 10-game unbeaten streak and rise into the national top 25. Roberts has contributed two goals and two assists in the last five games. UNC-Wilmington clinched its second straight regular season Colonial Athletic Association title and will host the conference tournament Nov. 13-15.
• MF Josue Soto (SMU / Monterrey, Mexico) - Scored for the second consecutive game when he converted a penalty kick in 3-2 win at Tulsa on Oct. 21 ... Assisted on two goals as Mustangs rallied for 3-3 tie vs. Central Florida on Oct. 31.
• MF Pana Vasquez (SMU / Cy Falls / Houstonians) - Scored his first collegiate goal in 3-2 win at Tulsa on Oct. 21 ... SMU win broke Tulsa's 21-game league unbeaten streak.

Sophomores:

• FW Alex Dixon (North Carolina / Humble Atascocita / Texans) - Netted natural hat trick in 7-0 blowout of Stetson on Oct. 28, the first hat trick by a UNC player since 2005. Dixon was named to the national team of the week by two magazines following his hat trick ... Dixon is tied for second on the No. 2-ranked Tar Heels with five goals ... Started, played 64 minutes, and had two shots on goal in 1-0 win at Virginia Tech on Oct. 24 ... Also Started, played about 60 minutes, and had two shots in 2-1 win at Elon on Nov. 3.
• MF Clayton Holz (Stanford / St. John's / Houstonians) - Appeared as a substitute in 2-0 win at UCLA on Oct. 25 ... Stanford is ranked in the top 25 in the country.
• MF Matt Kirby (Denver / Bmnt. Msgr. Kelly / Texans) - Started and played about 60 minutes in 2-2 tie vs. UNLV on Oct. 23 ... Started but played only 39 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. New Mexico on Oct. 25 ... Played 28 minutes as a substitute in 3-0 loss at Cal State Bakersfield on Nov. 1.

Freshmen:

• DF Matt Boullt (Tulsa / Fort Bend Clements / Tulsa) - Earned first career assist in 3-2 loss vs. SMU on Oct. 21 ... Followed that up with a game-winning assist in the 87th minute of 2-1 win at Marshall on Oct. 25 ... Came off the bench and notched one shot in 2-0 win vs. Memphis on Nov. 1.

San Jacinto Junior College

• So. DF Edward Estrada (San Jacinto/ Northbrook / Houstonians)
• So. MF Josue Garcia (San Jacinto / Jersey Village / Houstonians)
• So. FW Carlos Recinos (San Jacinto / Cy Ridge / Houstonians)
• Fr. FW Samir Pena (San Jacinto / Galena Park North Shore / Houstonians)

San Jacinto lost in the NJCAA Region XIV championship game on Oct. 31, falling 3-1 at unbeaten Tyler Junior College. The Gators had entered the game on a six-game winning streak.