University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
2-0-0, 0-0-0
Georgia State
0-1-1, 0-0-0
Rodrigo Mendes's Hat Trick Powers Bulldogs Past Georgia State
08.26.2025 | Men's Soccer
Mendes would get the scoring started in the 23rd minute when Charlie Wood fed Conrad Ryu Eriksson down the near wing, who then played a ball in the box. Mendes headed the ball home into the lower left corner as he crashed the far post for his second of the season.
23' | RODDY! 🗣️
— Asheville Men's Soccer (@UNCAvlMSoccer) August 26, 2025
His second of the year puts us up 1-0!#ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/3p1AXiva2d
Mendes would strike again in the 31st minute, this time off a ball crossed in from the near side of the box by Arnor Hardarson. Mendes played the one-touch into the back of the net for his second of the night with Hardarson picking up his second career helper on the play.
31' | Roddy x2⃣
— Asheville Men's Soccer (@UNCAvlMSoccer) August 26, 2025
Mendes's second of the night, assisted by Arnor Hardarson has us in front 2-0!#ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/ZvHuO6aCOx
The Bulldogs would play stout defense in their own end to take a 2-0 lead to the break.
Georgia State would get back within one in the 64th minute with a goal from Virgill Dall'Agnoll, assisted by Diego Soza. Mendes would get another chance in the 74th minute, when he was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. Mendes stashed it home to complete the hat trick, the first for a Bulldog since Sam Pitts-Eckersall in a 5-3 win over Georgia Southern on Aug. 28, 2022. The Bulldogs would play until the final whistle and defend home field for the win.
74' | 🎩🎩🎩
— Asheville Men's Soccer (@UNCAvlMSoccer) August 26, 2025
Rodrigo Mendes records the first Bulldog hat trick since 2002 and we lead 3-1!#ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/KDzuYuIo52
Asheville registered nine shots in the match with five on goal, to Georgia State's 13 shots with four on target. Asheville also recorded two corner kicks to Georgia State's five. Mendes led the way offensively with a match-high and career-high six shots with three on goal, while Viðar Ragnarsson, Louis Beckett and Charlie Wood each had one shot in the match with Beckett's shot on target. Lucca Barros (2-0-0) set a new career-high with three saves in the match.
The Bulldogs return to action on Sunday (Aug. 31) at Queens (N.C.) in non-conference action. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. from Charlotte, N.C. with video, live stats and tickets available at www.uncabulldogs.com.
Team Stats
Rodrigo Mendes (3)
Assisted By: Conrad Ryu Eriksson , Charlie Wood
GOAL by AVL Mendes, Rodrigo Assist by Eriksson, Conrad Ryu and Wood, Charlie.
22:26
Rodrigo Mendes (3)
Assisted By: Arnor Hardarson
GOAL by AVL Mendes, Rodrigo Assist by Hardarson, Arnor.
30:35
Samir-Mohamed Djeha (1)
Assisted By: Tom Fillaudeau
GOAL by GSU Djeha, Samir-Mohamed Assist by Fillaudeau, Tom.
63:18
Rodrigo Mendes (3)
AVL Rodrigo Mendes PENALTY KICK GOAL.
73:36
