Senior Gray Anderson scored a hat trick on Tuesday night with goals in each half to lead visiting Pinecrest to an 8-1 victory over Southeastern Conference rival Richmond Senior.

The rain-soaked field proved no problem for the Patriots, who now hold an 8-4-1 overall record. They are 5-0 in Southeastern Conference play.

Richard Palmer got things moving in the first four minutes for Pinecrest with a gentle header from a well-placed corner kick. The score remained 1-0 until the final 10 minutes of the half, when Hayden Little tapped the ball in from in front of the goal uncontested, and Justin Mace and Anderson found the net to go into the half leading 4-0.

Five minutes into the second period, Morgan VanCamp had a hard strike which was deflected back to Dane Nelsen who had the put-back for the goal. Anderson had his second goal a minute later. Brendan McKinley’s assist down the visitor’s side found a breaking Kevin Grasso close in for the seventh score. Pinecrest’s final goal belonged to Gray, who accomplished his third three-goal match as a varsity player.

Richmond County’s lone score came midway the second half. Mitchell Dotson and J.T. Stilwell shared goal-keeping responsibilities for the Patriots.

Both Richard Palmer and Chris Sanders recorded two assists, and one each was credited to Chris Potter, Anderson and McKinley. On the schedule next for coach Todd Abbey’s team is a home game with Hoke County, which is rescheduled for Thursday night due to rain. Pinecrest has an away game at Lumberton on Oct. 5.