ROCHESTER, N.Y. –Dylan Ruiz scored three goals to become the career goal-scoring leader at Roberts Wesleyan College and the Redhawks defeated Lancaster Bible College 4-1 in a National Christian College Athletic Association Midwest Region semifinal game on Wednesday.
"It's just amazing," Ruiz said. "Everyone has been congratulating me and it is just so special what I have been able to do over the last four years with my teammates. Today was a milestone day, for sure." 
Ruiz converted a touch pass from Johanz Tusiime in the 42^nd minute for his second goal of the match and 49^th career goal, eclipsing the former record of 48 set by Jaime Rivera from 1977-80. Tamas Nagy started the play with a run down the far sideline before centering the ball to Tusiime.
"I am just over the moon for Dylan," Roberts coach Scott Reber said. "That record has stood for 41 years and for him to break it in basically three seasons just speaks to his quality."
Ruiz buried a feed from Ethan Leonard in the fifth minute to give Roberts a 1-0 advantage. Nagy doubled the Redhawks' lead with a rocket into the top left corner in the 17^th minute. Ruiz completed the scoring off a feed from Ollie Ardle in the 89th minute and now has 17 goals this season, which is tied for sixth in NCAA Division II.
Ruiz said the first goal was special because the pass came from Leonard, who has been his roommate for four years.
"I knew that ball was coming to me before it even got there," Ruiz said. "He just always gives me perfect passes. When that one went in I felt like there were maybe more to come and I just kept going."
Ruiz scored seven goals as a freshman in 2018, 18 in 2019, eight this spring for a career total of 50. He was named a first-team National Christian College All-American after his sophomore season. Ruiz has scored three or more goals in a match six times during his career and scored a career-high four against D'Youville on April 18.
Rivera, who lives in Miami, Fla., was in attendance and hugged Ruiz on the sideline shortly after the record-breaker.
"This is what I was hoping for, the third time was the charm," said Rivera, who traveled to watch the Redhawks on two other occasions this season. "I just told him that I was so proud of him and that he absolutely deserved it."
Rivera's support has meant a great deal to Ruiz over the last several weeks.
"I really appreciate him and him flying up here to see us," Ruiz said. "He told me that we were going to start a new tradition. When someone gets close to breaking my record I am going to need to clear my schedule and go watch them play, too." 
Clark Shreiner scored on a penalty kick in the 50^th minute for the Chargers (10-6-4).
Roberts moves on to play Grace College in the Midwest Region Final at 2 p.m. Saturday in Warsaw, Indiana.
Reber liked the fact that the Redhawks (8-6-3) started quickly and finished strong at the end of both halves on Wednesday." 
"Hopefully we can build on this and get an even better performance against Grace on Saturday," he said.