FREDERICK, Md.--Freshman midfielder Kyle Sterling scored two goals and assisted on a third to lead the visiting Salisbury University Seagulls to a 7-1 victory over the Hood College men's soccer team in a Capital Athletic Conference contest Saturday afternoon at Thomas Athletic Field. The Blazers drop to 7-8-1 overall and 1-6-1 in the CAC, while Salisbury improves to 9-4-1 overall, 4-3-0 in the league.

The Seagulls kept constant pressure on Hood goalkeeper Shawn Fernholz throughout the game, netting five first-half goals to set the tone. Steve Merrow got the visitors on the board at the 9:09 mark when he scored off a pass from Scott Sparrow. One minute later, Sterling cashed in on his first goal of the afternoon off a feed from Wijy Jones. Sparrow then hooked up with Jones at 16:43 to make it 3-0 Salisbury. Sterling added an unassisted tally at the 22:20 mark, then set up Nick Malone 2:37 later to give the Seagulls a 5-0 lead at the break.

In the second half, Sparrow registered his third assist of the afternoon when he set up Dico Doran just 2:11 into the second period. The Blazers finally broke through at the 61:06 mark when junior Marcelino Rabara scored his sixth goal of the season. Rabara's shot caromed off the left goal post and into the net. Salisbury's Jason Smith rounded out the scoring with under five minutes to go in the game when he scored off an assist by Zach Grubb.

Fernholz finished with nine saves for the Blazers, while Matt Blue and Joshua Scotton both made a pair of saves for the Seagulls.

The Blazers return to action Sunday when they host Ferrum College at 1 p.m.