Grand Rapids, Mich. — Ricardo Rittersberger recorded a hat trick against Concordia on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 23) in a 3-0 conference-opening win at the AQ Athletic Field.

The Saints (5-1-1) are undefeated in their last five games while outscoring their opponents 18-0. The Cardinals dropped to 1-6-1 on the season.

Rittersberger scored his first two goals in less than 30 seconds of the 28th minute. The first came from a Fin Pittock entry pass on the right side of the box as Rittersberger went top shelf. Pittock also assisted the next on a throw-in from the right sideline as Rittersberger made it inside the far post.

Aquinas dominated the first half, outshooting Concordia 10-5 and taking four corner kicks to the Cardinals' one.

Concordia brought the energy in the second half by possessing the ball in the Saints' defensive end for most of the final 45 minutes. Six shots were taken, but AQ goalkeeper Ivan Radovic was up to the task and kept the Cardinals off the board.

The hat trick for Rittersberger was completed in the 89th minute for the game's final goal. Milan Hoeffnagel headed a corner kick up in the air on the far post, and Rittersberger came flying through the air to finish with his head for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Defensively, the Saints kept another clean sheet. AQ has six shutouts in seven games played this season. Aquinas hasn't allowed a goal in 460 minutes of game time.

Radovic made a career-high seven saves in the contest, earning his second shutout in as many starts. Joe Lockey, Jesunifemi Ojutalayo, Josh Freeman-Wright, Fin Pittock and Timothy Phillips all logged minutes in the back line to help secure the shutout.

The Saints continue conference play on Wednesday (Sept. 27) on the road at UM-Dearborn. AQ is 9-1-1 over the last 10 games against the Wolverines, and UMD is currently 2-8-2 on the season.