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METROSTARS 4, KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 1

East Rutherford, N.J. - Clint Mathis registered the first hat trick of the 2001 MLS season as the MetroStars routed Kansas City 4-1 at Giants Stadium on Wednesday night.

Mathis is now MLS' leading scorer, with five goals and two assists in four games.

"I will take the shot on goal every chance I get and tonight I was fortunate to get three good opportunities to score," Mathis said. "I've been trying something new each game and it has been working. I guess you can say I'm in a zone, I'm certainly full of confidence."

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute of the contest, as former MetroStars midfielder Kerry Zavagnin notched his first goal of the 2001 campaign for the Wizards. The Metros failed to properly clear a Kansas City corner kick from their box, allowing Wizards forward Mo Johnston to head a loose ball out of the box to an onrushing Zavagnin.

The veteran midfielder one-timed a left-footed volley from 24 yards out on the left side. The shot eluded MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard to the right post.

Mathis tied up the contest in the 16th minute with another highlight-reel goal. The U.S. National Team standout swerved a free kick around the wall from 27 yards out in the 16th minute. The shot bent violently and tucked just inside the right post. Kansas City goalkeeper Tony Meola never had a chance against the perfectly placed strike.

Mathis was fouled outside the box by Wizards defender Brandon Prideaux as he took a feed from Ramos toward the Kansas City box. MLS' leading scorer had another world-class goal, a 70-yard run for a score, last weekend for the Metros in a 3-2 win over Dallas.

The striker registered what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 32nd minute. Ramos cut through midfield and found Mathis on the right side. The attacker cut back toward the top of the box and blasted a left-footed shot just inside the right post from 25 yards out to put the MetroStars up 2-1.

Mathis added to the MetroStars lead in the 49th minute. After notching goals with his right and left feet, he headed home a Ramos corner kick from eight yards out.

MetroStars striker Adolfo Valencia rounded out the scoring in the 58th minute to make it 4-1. Valencia took a feed from Ramos down the right wing and sent a shot directly at Meola, who made the save. Valencia pounced on the rebound in the goal mouth and easily slotted in his second goal of the year.

"It is very difficult to score on Kansas City, anytime you can get four against them I'll take it," MetroStars head coach Octavio Zambrano said. "After we went up, it forced them to open up a bit and we exploited that."

The MetroStars (3-1-1, 10pts) will continue their six-game home stand against D.C. United on Saturday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Kansas City (3-2-1, 10pts) travels cross-country to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy on Saturday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

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