BELOIT, Wis. – Cornell's men's soccer program crowned a new scoring king during Saturday's 5-2 triumph over Beloit in the Midwest Conference opener for both teams at Strong Field.
 
Junior George Archer vaulted to No. 1 on the Rams' all-time points list, breaking Mike Zarate's long-standing career record that held for 28 years.
 
Archer celebrated the feat in grand fashion with his second career hat trick. The three goals scored Saturday bumped Archer's career points total to 69 in only his 36th match with the Rams.
 
Archer passed Pietro Amado (63 points, 2015-18) and Zarate (65 points, 1992-95) for most points scored by a Cornell men's player. The two-time first team all-MWC performer has registered impressive career totals of 28 goals and 13 assists with plenty of matches left ahead for the Rams' dynamic playmaker.
 
Archer moved within two goals of Zarate's career record of 30. Saturday marked the ninth time Archer has netted at least two goals in a match.
 
Aidan Lerch put the Rams (2-4-3 overall, 1-0 MWC) on the scoreboard with an assisted goal from Gaurab Khadka 14 minutes into the match. Then it was Archer scoring in the 29th, 49th and 64th minute that gave Cornell a commanding 4-0 lead midway through the second half.
 
Mohamed Abdelrahman capped Cornell's big offensive day with his first collegiate goal at the 86-minute mark. Khadka finished the match with two assists, while Lerch added one.
 
The Rams beat Beloit (0-7 overall, 0-1 MWC) for the fifth time in the last six meetings.  
 
Archer accounted for seven of the team's 16 total shots. Lerch attempted five.
 
Starting goalkeeper Floris Huiskers worked 81 scoreless minutes and tallied four saves. Jeremy Spina finished the match in relief.
 
Coming up – The Rams are home Tuesday for a 5 p.m. nonconference match against Central.