Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press

As the temperature soared to a scorching 99 degrees, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt soccer team’s offense was not phased on the pitch.

Behind a hat trick by Jose Padilla, the Colts shutout the Ruidoso Warriors 8-0 at Stapp Parade Field on Saturday afternoon.

“It was a great day. We started off passing really well and then we tried to get some minutes for guys who don’t get a lot of time. We’re just trying to get everybody on and get them some experience,” said NMMI head coach John Barbour.

Andres Moreno got NMMI (5-2-1) on the board in the first half.

After the first ball found the back of the net the floodgates opened up for the Colt offense.

Ben Zimmerman then got in on the action with a goal to give his team an early 2-0.

Padilla scored the next two goals. His second goal came off an assist by Ben Zimmerman.

John Zimmerman scored just before the end of the half to give NMMI a commanding 5-0 lead entering the break.

With the starters beginning the second half on the bench, plenty of other players got to see action.

Jose Donnadieu tallied a goal to give the Colts a 6-0 advantage. Jose Perez later scored to continue the offensive onslaught.

Padilla found the back of the net once more off an assist by Donnadieu in the waning minutes of the game.

The Colts had 27 shots on goal. Juan Ortiz and Ben Zimmerman added with two assists each while Donnadieu, Andres Moreno, John Zimmerman and Ruben Gonzalez had one assist apiece.

NMMI wraps up its four-game home stand next week. The Colts take on Goddard at 6 p.m. Thursday before hosting Portales at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“We got some good time for many people who were deserving of it, and when they got out there they took advantage of time on the field,” Barbour added. “As long as we can pick up some W’s here while we’re at home then we’ll hopefully go into some of those road trips and be able to carry that over.”