CONWAY, Ark. – Pietro Fontana had one of the best offensive outputs by a Central Arkansas Bear Saturday afternoon, tying a program record with four goals in a 6-2 win over Queens. The win keeps Central Arkansas unbeaten in conference games, now 1-0-1.
 
The Bears' overall record improves to 2-4-2, with just a single loss in the previous four matches. Fontana's scoring output was his third multi-goal game of his career, and the second of the season. His four goals tie Niklas Brodacki's all-time record from 2017, marking just the second four-goal game in program history. As it stands at the end of Sunday, it also marks the most goals in a single game by any Division I player this season.
 
But early on, it was Queens who took the early lead, with the Royals opening the scoring in just the fifth minute. Playing from a deep throw, the Bears shanked a clearance, pushing the ball only 25 yards from the goal, right to a Royal, who hit the volley and sent it home.
 
It took less than ten minutes for the Bears to respond, however, as the home team set off to equalize the match. Central Arkansas would take four shots in an attempt to find an answer, but the Queens defense held firm. But that wouldn't last long, as Andres Robles connected a pass to Devonte Richards, who spun it into the box to Tajio James. Beating a defender, James slid it across the face of the goal to Fontana, who finished it to tie the game.
 
Queens continued to pressure the goal, earning a corner kick in the 21^st minute. The Bears sent it away, and leading to an Elijah Bishop boot that carried down the field, where Fontana was able to collect it and beat the keeper for his second goal of the day. Central Arkansas would take a couple more shots as the half continued, but neither to much avail.
 
The flood gates opened in the second half, as Fontana finished his hat trick just two minutes into the second 45. James again found the Italian in prime position, and Fontana punched it home for the first hat trick by a Bear since 2019. Not three minutes later, James was on the receiving end of a goal. Sohma Ichikawa hit a long ball along the left side to Richards, who found James in the box. The Richards-James connection is a familiar one to the duo, who linked for plenty of goals at Feather River College.
 
Fontana took his fourth goal in style, receiving the ball at midfield and taking it 60-plus yards himself, driving the length and beating the keeper for his final score of the day. His eight points on the day are the second-most in a single game in program history, and vaults him up the ladder to 15 points on the year.
 
With the bench coming into the game, the Bears continued to press the gas pedal, as young players looking to secure playing time sought to execute the game plan. With plenty fresh legs, the Bears whipped the ball around, landing at the feet of Ignacio Bellina, who punched in his first goal of the year. Bear Nation might remember Bellina as one of the Bears who hit a penalty kick in the shootout of last season's ASUN Semifinal against Bellarmine.
 
Queens would tap one in with a minute and a half left on the clock, narrowing the gap to four goals, but it was too little, too late for the Royals. It marked the most goals in a match for Central Arkansas since 2017 against Oral Roberts.
 
Central Arkansas takes the pitch again next Saturday, heading to Lipscomb for a rematch of the ASUN Championship Final. Kickoff against the Bisons is set for 4 p.m. CT.