LAKEWOOD, Colo. – There's more than one Gutierrez in these parts.
 
Jaime Gutierrez became a fixture for the MSU Denver men's soccer program last season while earning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.
 
But, on Friday at least, Jerry Gutierrez took center stage.
 
Jerry Gutierrez scored a hat trick in the Roadrunners' 5-0 victory over Colorado Christian, the first hat trick for the program since … that other Gutierrez had one last season.
 
"It has to mean something for the Hispanic heritage that we have," said Jerry Gutierrez, who is no relation to Jaime.
 
Jerry Gutierrez scored his first goal of the season in the 20^thminute, with a blast from 25 yards out. He followed that up in the 30^thminute with a goal after controlling a loose ball in the box. And, before the first half ended, he scored on a penalty kick that made it 5-0.

"Jerry is a freshman who's playing like a sophomore or junior right now," MSU Denver coach Hank Lewis said. "We were joking earlier today because Hurricane Jerry is threatening to hit the East Coast, but we were joking that another Hurricane Jerry touched down in Denver today. 

"He's made a huge step forward in being a connector in the midfield, and when he strings together passing combos and helps switch the play, he also gets himself into dangerous situations so he can score goals the way he did today." 
 
Gutierrez has impressed with his all-around ability through his previous four games, and now came this.
 
"I feel like that was just the appetizer for the meal that's coming later in the season," Gutierrez said. "This was a good start for what's to come. I appreciate what this game has done to give me confidence for what's to come."
 
Benjamin Brill and Brayden Forrester, in the ninth and 15^thminute, respectively, scored the Roadrunners' first two goals.
 
Brill scored a nearly identical goal to the one he had scored Sunday against Chaminade (Hawaii), heading in a corner kick from German countryman Yannick Schad. (Against Chaminade, Schad's pass was on a penalty kick).
 
Forrester scored on a beautiful through ball from Jaime Gutierrez.
 
The Roadrunners (3-2 overall, 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) head to Dixie State for an 11 a.m. game Sunday. It was a good response after losing Sunday at home to Chaminade.
 
"Our big thing was just playing the way we know how to play," Lewis said. "'Don't let them impose their will.' Because we both lost to Chaminade, our thought was that they might have some hope.
 
"Let's just shut them down the first 20 minutes by controlling the ball, because we have the ability to do that."