Puyallup, Wash. — October 14, 2026 — Clark men's soccer erupted for five second-half goals to secure a 5-2 road victory over Pierce on Wednesday at Heritage Rec Center. The Penguins received a hat trick from Luis Ruano Perez and additional goals from James Feuerbacher and Balde Irakoze to earn their sixth win of the season.
Clark (6-5-1) controlled much of the match, finishing with 18 shots, including 15 on goal, while limiting Pierce (1-14-1) to just five shots and four on target.
After a scoreless first half, the Penguins broke through in the 54th minute when Ruano Perez scored at 53:26 to give Clark a 1-0 lead. Feuerbacher extended the advantage to 2-0 just four minutes later, finding the back of the net at 57:31.
Pierce responded with two goals to even the score at 2-2, as Aiden Navarro scored in the 64th minute and Nikhill Dasani added another in the 69th minute. Clark quickly regained control, however, answering with three goals in the final 20 minutes.
Irakoze put the Penguins back in front at 71:06, finishing a pass from Mason Renner to make it 3-2. Ruano Perez struck again at 78:21 to extend Clark's lead to two goals before completing his hat trick at 85:18. Irakoze provided the assist on the final goal, securing the 5-2 victory.
Ruano Perez led Clark's offensive attack with three goals on four shots, putting all four attempts on target. His three-goal performance powered a second-half surge that saw the Penguins score five times on 12 shots after the break.
Irakoze contributed a goal and an assist, while Feuerbacher added a goal on his lone shot on target. Renner also played a key role in the attack, recording two shots on goal and assisting on Irakoze's goal.
Travis O'Hara added four shots, including two on target, while Jackson Radi recorded two shots on goal. Quinn Fletcher and Evan Roscoe each put a shot on target, helping Clark finish with 15 shots on goal and force Pierce goalkeeper Ricky Ulloa to make 10 saves.
Defensively, Clark held Pierce to just two shots in the first half and five for the match. Goalkeeper Dennis (DJ) Zimmer played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves as the Penguins weathered Pierce's brief second-half comeback before pulling away.
Clark also earned four corner kicks and committed six fouls in a physical second half. Pierce finished with two corner kicks and 10 fouls.
The victory moves Clark to 6-5-1 on the season. The Penguins' five-goal second half showcased their offensive depth and ability to respond under pressure, as they closed out the road win with three goals in the final 19 minutes.
Next up, the Penguins (5-5-1, 5-5-1) will travel to Olympia to take on South Puget Sound (1-7-2, 1-9-2) in a game that can help the Penguins get closer to a post-season appearance.
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