ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - Senior midfielder Kyle Sterling (Salisbury, Md.) came up with his third career hat trick as the Salisbury University men's soccer team remained unbeaten in Capital Athletic Conference play, earning a 5-1 victory at St. Mary's College Saturday afternoon.

Salisbury (10-2-1, 4-0-1 CAC) took a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes of play and never relinquished the lead. Senior midfielder Benjamin Reed (Arnold, Md.) scored in the 19^th minute, unassisted, to open the scoring. The tally was his fifth of the season.

Just 43 seconds later, Reed contributed on another Salisbury score, garnering an assist on Sterling's first goal of the day, to push the lead to 2-0. The goal was Sterling's 10^th of the season, and gives him double-figure goals in each of the last three years.

St. Mary's got a quick answer to Sterling's goal, cutting the lead to 2-1 a few minutes later, but the Seahawks (4-9, 2-5 CAC) would not be given the chance to break even.

In the second half, the Sea Gulls put pressure on St. Mary's early, scoring twice in the first nine minutes and putting the match away as Sterling figured in three more SU goals. He assisted junior midfielder Dave Corrigan (Brookfield, Conn.) in the 50^th minute, before adding penalty kick goal in the 54^th minute and capping his hat trick with an unassisted strike in the 66th minute of the match.

Sterling's seven points on the day, match a career high, which he first gained against Christopher Newport University on Oct. 17, 2007.

Salisbury senior goalkeeper Joshua Scotton (Delmar, Md.) made two saves in goal for the Sea Gulls, earning his second win of the season.

The Sea Gulls will be back in action Wednesday, when they travel to Marymount University to continue CAC play. Wednesday's match is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.