Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Sep. 7)- Senior forward C.J. Cerna (Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville) recorded his first collegiate hat trick with three goals on Sunday, but a late rally by visiting Oakland City University proved to be too much in a 5-4 overtime loss to spoil the McKendree's men's soccer home opener.

The Bearcats fall to 0-1-1 overall and begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Friday, Sep. 12 at Maryville University at 2:30 p.m.

Cerna put McKendree in front, 1-0, in the 20th minute after he scored off the first collegiate assist from freshman midfielder Zino Efenedo (St. Kitts and Nevis/NEPA Secondary School). The Mighty Oaks went on to tie the game in the 22nd minute, 1-1.

Cerna struck again in the 27th minute off a free kick from senior defender Connor Cassidy (Glasgow, Scotland/St. Andrews) for his second goal of the game to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead at the half.

He completed the hat trick with his third goal of the game, matching his season total from the 2013 season, in the 46th minute off an assist by senior midfielder Kavel Smith (Kingston, Jamaica/St. George’s College) and freshman forward Andrew Ducharme (Edwardsville, Ill./Triad High School) scored his first collegiate goal in the 77th minute off an assist by senior defender Joe Hilderbrand (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney) to extend the lead to 4-1.

Oakland City scored three goals in the final 12 minutes of regulation to force overtime, and scored the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute to win the game 5-4.

Junior goalkeeper Matt Derrington (St. Louis, Mo./Trinity Catholic) falls to 0-1 on the season with the loss and had three saves.