MORRIS, Minn. – Senior Blake Perry (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) scored a hat trick and the UW-Superior men's soccer inched closer to an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 4-1 victory over Minnesota Morris at Cougar Field on Friday.
 
The win coupled with a win at Crown in the regular-season finale on Saturday will give the Yellowjackets the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. On Friday, UWS (13-6-0, 12-1-0 UMAC) used penalty-kick goals from Nicolai Stokker (Klokkarstua, Norway/St. Hallvard) and Perry en route to victory.
 
Perry opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a rocket over the head of Minnesota Morris goalkeeper Lucas Harmon (three saves). Stokker assisted on the tally that made it 1-0. Stokker added his penalty in the 25th minute for a 2-0 lead before the Cougars' Carter Watkinson scored off of the ensuring kickoff to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
 
Perry scored the final two goals 27 and 28 minutes into match, respectively, for the final margin. Sophomore Karsten Kletti (Vadnais Heights, Minn./White Bear Lake Area) found Perry over the top, who finished off his 14th goal of the season from in tight to restore the two-goal advantage. One minute later, Perry buried his penalty to complete the hat trick.
 
Superior led in shots, 17-7, outshooting Minnesota Morris (5-13-1, 5-7-1) in shots on target, 7-3.
 
UWS goalkeepers Alex Paredes (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) and Payton Anderson (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing) each played a half and made one save apiece with Paredes drawing the start. He improved to 13-4-0 with the win.
 
Kickoff between the 'Jackets and Storm in St. Bonifacius, Minn., on Saturday is slated for 3:30 p.m.