Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University sophomore forward Jon Ander (Bilbao, Spain) notched his first career hat trick Wednesday night, leading the 16th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs to a convincing 5-0 victory over Queens University in South Atlantic Conference men's soccer action, Wingate improves to 5-0-2 overall and 3-0 in the SAC, while the Royals fall to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

Ander got the scoring started in the fourth minute. A long pass from sophomore midfielder Callum Ross (Newcastle, England) was controlled by junior midfielder Aksel Juul (Newcastle, England), who found Ander in the box. The sophomore curled one in the left corner to give Wingate a 1-0 lead.

Ander struck again 12 minutes later. A corner kick from David Fairgrieve (Newcastle, England) found Ander in the left side of the box. He grounded one through the defense and past the keeper to make it 2-0.

The Bulldogs took a three-goal lead in the 19th minute. A loose ball in the box forced the Queens goalkeeper off his line. Ross got the ball towards the top of the box and chipped one over the defenders and into the back of the net, collecting his league-best fifth goal of the season.

Wingate took a four-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half, with All-American forward Charlie Machell (Newcastle, England) getting behind the defense after a pair of perfect passes from Juul and Shaun Gadsby (Newcastle, England), beating the keeper by lining one into the near corner. The reigning SAC Player of the Year Machell has four goals this season.

Ander finished his hat trick with 20 minutes remaining in the contest. A perfect cross from Gadsby found Ander in front of the goal. He headed home his third goal of the night and fifth of the year to make it 5-0.

Ander is the fourth Bulldog to notch a hat trick since the start of the 2014 season. Machell had two last year, including one against Queens. Gadsby also had a hat trick last season, while Ross registered a hat trick earlier this year in the 5-0 win against UNC Pembroke.

Wingate held a 21-9 advantage in shots on the night, including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Pablo Jara (Santiago, Chile) had three saves to collect his third shutout of the year. Jara leads the SAC in goals-against average and save percentage. Sergio Lemus had a pair of saves for the Royals.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, opening a four-match road trip at Newberry at 4 p.m.