MOULTRIE – Jose Moreno had the three-goal hat trick, and Bryan Galardo scored back-to-back points late when Colquitt County High’s boys soccer team breezed by Worth County High 7-0 Friday at Packer Park. And – to use another hockey term – it was a match where the visiting Rams of Sylvester were on a practical power play all night.

Just like in major FIFA matches seen on television, when there is a red card ejection, the team with the guilty party loses that position for the remainder of play. Colquitt County suffered such a penalty on Friday when the match was not even three minutes old. But 10 vs. 11 didn’t matter to the Packers, which has yet to suffer a loss in seven occasions on the field so far in 2017.

Not long after the card, Worth took a high shot just from outside the penalty box.

At 32:40, the Packers took their first corner kick on the night. Ruben Gonzalez did the kicking, and Moreno headed it to the back of the net.

It was almost four minutes later when Moreno scored for the second time. The Packer shooting continued to be relentless, with Carlos Landa hitting a ball that landed on the top of the goal (25:40), and Paulino Munoz blasted a 23-yarder that was caught by the Ram goalkeeper at 22:50.

Will Barber led the Packer defensive effort, clearing away the ball out of the Worth attacking zone. Colquitt’s continued attacks speared by Munoz and Moreno led to corner kicks and a foul against the Rams three yards from the top of the box. Those efforts couldn’t add to the lead, but when Emmanuel Rodriguez and Gonzalez worked the ball right to left, Landa capitalized with his only goal of the night at 17:24.

While Packer coaches couldn’t add a player to the field, they got good minutes in the first half from Pedro Luna, Wes Smith and Galardo. Galardo made an onside pass to Gedber Mejia, who ran with the ball to the left post. His shot was stopped, however, at the four-minute mark.

Barber and Isaac Malagon broke things up in the final 20 seconds to keep the match at 3-0 for halftime.

Worth County opened the second half getting a free kick from a left angle about 20 yards away. This is where Packer goalkeeper Blayton Duncan made his biggest impact, using his knees to stop the ball.

Going in the other direction, Munoz made a solid crossing pass nobody could get to. He continued to work with Moreno and Raymon Garcia in the passing game across the field, and his combinations with Luna and Landa got him the ball in the middle for a shot caught at 31 minutes to go.

Four minutes later, the Rams had a corner kick, but it was claimed in the field by Moreno. He went full speed the other way, and with no calls for the ensuing contact the Worth coach received a yellow card. At 26:10, Garcia assisted the one goal by Munoz for 4-0 Packers.

Moreno, looking for that third goal, took Munoz’ fast-break lead pass but shot high at 24:25. Five minutes later, he dribbled the ball to the top of the box (also known as the 18), and connected for No. 3 at 19:15.

With plenty of running and passing left, Moreno worked with Landa down the left side. From a crossing pass, Galardo scored for the first time at 17:17.

The major defensive moment came from Garcia at 12:30, and Galardo’s top of the box blast at 8:52 completed the 7-0 score.

LADY PACKERS

At 15:46 remaining in the second half, Lexi McDaniel notched the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal for the Colquitt County High girls soccer team Friday. McDaniel scored twice in the second half, and the Lady Packers defeated Worth County 5-2 at Packer Park for their fourth win in a row.

The winner was a 25-yard free kick and broke a 2-2 tie, all of those goals scoring in the first half. McDaniel followed that up by converting a penalty kick with 3:30 remaining.

Lady Packer goalkeeper Julia Warnock had one diving stop to make to keep visiting Worth off the board after her team went in front. She had five saves for the match.

Keri Brown also scored two times on Friday. Her last attempt rolled in unchecked to stop the clock at 5.7 seconds. She and freshman Chloe Gould had the first-half goals on Colquitt’s side.

“The first half was not what we wanted,” said coach Trey Jones. “The result showed. We left Worth in the game. They outplayed us … were more physical. In the second half, we matched that and found ways to score.”

Region 1-7A play for Colquitt County soccer begins this Friday with a doubleheader at Tift County High.