Bond records 6th hat trick this season

Forward Taylor Bond made enough plays for Chicago to complete its 3-0 season sweep of St. Louis.

The Mustangs defeated the Ambush 7-5 on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Family Arena as Bond notched a hat trick for his team-leading 28th goal of the season and an assist.

His performance included drawing a shootout as he won a header with St. Louis sixth attacker midfielder Lucas Almeida at midfield.

Midfielder Efrain “Wilo” Martinez scored on the shootout as he sidestepped keeper Casey Clark to put the game away at 7-5 with 29.9 seconds remaining.

The Mustangs (8-7) scored the first goal of the game for only the fifth time this season, and led the rest of the way. The Mustangs went up 3-0 with 11:56 left in the second quarter on a turn and goal from forward Osvaldo Rojas, assisted by midfielder Alonso “Negro” Sandoval. O. Rojas has 11 goals this year. Bond scored the first two goals of the game.

Then, 26 seconds following St. Louis’ (1-17) first goal of the game by Almeida, midfielder Douglas Dos Santos was fed by Bond on a cross and finished to make it 4-1 for his sixth goal of the season.

First-year Mustang midfielder Francisco “Paco” Gonzalez scored his fifth goal of the season with a blast from the right wing off a pass from Wilo on the break to make it 6-4 with 6:07 left.

The Ambush pulled within a goal with 1:25 left as defender Chris Mattingly’s shot forced a rebound that midfielder Victor France buried for his second goal of the game.

That comeback was then stunted when Bond won the header and midfield after being fouled to setup the shootout.

Midfielder Kentaro Takada was tied for the St. Louis team-lead in goals with two.