BERLIN – Matthew Hoppe looks like he's just getting started. The 19-year-old American forward scored a hat trick in his third start for Schalke and followed up by scoring in each of his next two games.
With those five goals, Hoppe is already Schalke’s leading scorer this season. He is arguably the team’s greatest hope of avoiding relegation after its woeful season so far.
Schalke is in last place in the Bundesliga with only one win from 20 matches. Nine points from safety with 14 games to play, Schalke needs a win at Union Berlin on Saturday to rekindle any hope of survival. “The biggest goal is to try and help Schalke stay in the Bundesliga.