ASHLAND – Not long after reaching a milestone with his 20th collegiate goal, Irwin Leon celebrated his first career hat trick in Southern Oregon's 4-1 win over Evergreen (Wash.) to start Cascade Conference play on Friday afternoon at Raider Stadium's Laurel Field.

Leon, a graduate transfer from Moreno Valley, Calif., broke open what had been a tie game at halftime by doing all of his damage in a span of 12 minutes. He and the Raiders kept their record unbeaten, using the offensive outburst to improve to 6-0-1.

Papa Yansane was another SOU sparkplug after the Geoducks (0-4-0) struck first on Marvin Sea's second-chance goal off a deflection in the 18th minute. In the 21st, he drew a foul in the box that enabled Daniel Palomino to equalize with a penalty kick.

Yansane then assisted on Leon's first two goals – with a slick chip from the end line that Leon never let reach the ground before slotting it home with his left foot in the 52nd minute, and with a long pass down field that Felix Valenzuela Paz ran down and redirected to the far post for a Leon header in the 54th.

Leon completed the feat in the 64th minute, when Jonathan Colunga retrieved Josue Ghiessy Biveghe's long pass and sent it across to Leon on his first touch for an easy score on an advantage.

Leon's three-goal outing was the 14th in team history. He is at six goals on the season – including five in SOU's last three games – and 21 in his career, having notched the first 15 as an all-conference performer for Corban.

The Raiders, who received votes in this week's NAIA coaches' poll at No. 34 overall, have logged 15 goals in their last three outings and outscored their opponents 21-4 combined on the season.

They put 11 of their 22 shots on target. Casey Ruvolo kept Evergreen at bay with four saves.

SOU will attempt to match its longest season-opening unbeaten streak on Sunday, hosting Northwest (Wash.) at 12:30 p.m. The Eagles started their CCC schedule with Friday's 4-1 loss at Oregon Tech.