The Purple Raiders, 5-3 overall, have now won two in a row and four out of their last five.

Bluffton falls to 1-5-1 overall.

Freshman Joey Merlo (Niles/Cardinal Mooney) posted the first hat trick of his career with three goals.

Mount Union was leading 1-0 after a Tim Debth (North Olmsted/North Olmsted) goal in the 23rd minute and Merlo made it 2-0 as he got his first goal off a rebound in the 30th minute.

Merlo got his second score in the 43rd minute as freshman Quebec Gibbins (Canton/Massillon Jackson) fed him on a cross in the box to make the score 3-0 at the break.

Bluffton got on the board in the 64th minute off a free kick from 20 yards out by Jacob Graham.

Merlo then tallied his third goal off a pass from Debth in the 83rd minute for the 4-1 final.

The Raiders dominated most of the action as they outshot Bluffton 30-4.

Freshman Jon Critell (Youngstown/Cardinal Mooney) had three saves in goal to get the win for Mount Union.

The Raiders stay home to host LaRoche (PA) College Thursday at 4 pm in Mount Union Stadium.