By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons netted five goals, including a hat trick from sophomore Andres Lozano, to down Allan Hancock College 5-1 in front of a home crowd on Tuesday.

The win was the first for Canyons in more than a month, with the Cougars having alternated draws and losses over its last four contests. The victory also snapped the Cougars’ three-game scoreless streak, while the five-goal output represented a season-high for COC.

Lozano, who played his freshman season at Canyons back in 2014 before returning to the program last summer, made the most of his first start of the season.

“I felt really good out there,” said Lozano who last netted a goal on Nov. 7, 2014, in a 1-1 draw vs. Oxnard College. “That was my first hat trick, but it felt good to get the win.”

The game’s first goal came off the foot of sophomore midfielder Jorge Rojas in the ninth minute.

Then, with the match tied at 1-1 early in the first half, the Cougar attack found its rhythm, and Lozano was there for the final touch with goals in the 25th and 32nd minutes.

The sophomore, who prepped at Golden Valley High School, added another in the 53rd minute to give Canyons a comfortable 4-1 advantage.

Moments later sophomore forward Cesar Dominguez found the back of the net to end the scoring at 5-1.

Dominguez was also credited with an assist on Lozano’s second goal. The duo was able to create at least three additional scoring opportunities that didn’t find the back of the net.

“We played as a team and that was a really big part of today’s game,” said Dominguez about the Cougars’ ability to continually push the ball upfield and create scoring opportunities. “I’m proud of what we did today, there is still a lot to improve on, but this is a good step to keep going forward.”

Canyons had nine shots on goal in the game compared to seven for the Bulldogs.

COC goalkeeper Gabriel Ochoa started and surrendered the lone goal before giving way to Emerson Chavarria to begin the second half. The duo combined for six saves in the game, with Ochoa eventually earning the win.

Here’s the box score.

The victory over Allan Hancock (5-4-2) was important on several fronts. The Bulldogs entered the match having previously defeated Bakersfield College 5-1 and Glendale College 3-1 in back-to-back contests last week.

Both Bakersfield and Glendale compete in the Western State Conference South Division, along with the Cougars.

Canyons will play a final non-conference match at No. 17 state-ranked Oxnard College on Friday before conference play begins Tuesday, Oct. 9 with the Cougars hosting Citrus at 6:30 p.m.

Stay up to date on all this season’s action by visiting www.COCathletics.com and following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.