Boston College Athletics
Chris Cleary Nets Hat Trick In FA Cup Match
October 21, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2004
Former Boston College men's soccer captain Chris Cleary `02 became the first American to score a hat trick in an FA Cup match on Saturday in England.
The FA Cup is the oldest professional soccer tournament in the world and has been played for 133 years. Cleary's three goals led his club team, Worksop Town, to a 3-2 victory over Droylsden in a matchup of two sixth-division Nationwide Conference North squads. The 2001 Thomas McElroy award winner was one of six players nominated by England's Football Association for the FA Cup Player of the Round distinction.
Cleary registered 12 goals and 17 assists in his four-year career with the Eagles. The midfielder led BC to a BIG EAST tournament championship and an NCAA berth in 2000. He was selected as a third-team New England Regional All-American his junior season in 2001.
The Milton, Mass., native scored a career-high two goals against Boston University his junior year. Cleary started all but four games in his college career.
