Galaxy Can’t Stop Paule

Ross Paule scored a hat trick, and the Columbus Crew extended its team-record unbeaten streak to 11 games Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over the Galaxy at Columbus, Ohio.

The Crew (8-5-10), which moved into first place in the Eastern Conference with 34 points, is 4-0-7 since June 26.

Paule put Columbus ahead in the 26th minute, scoring in a crowd of players in front of the goal.

Paule’s second goal came 15 minutes later, when he blasted a rebound past Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

In the 68th minute, Arturo Torres of the Galaxy was called for a handball inside the penalty area, and Paule converted the penalty kick for his first career hat trick.

Joseph Ngwenya scored in first-half injury time for the Galaxy (9-7-8), which fell into second place in the Western Conference behind the Kansas City Wizards.

Kansas City 1, MetroStars 0 -- Josh Wolff scored in the 42nd minute to lift the Wizards at Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City has a league-best 38 points.

San Jose 1, New England 0 -- Former New England forward Chris Brown scored his second goal of the season to give the Earthquakes the victory at Foxboro, Mass.

Colorado 2, Dallas 1 -- Nat Borchers scored on a header in the 86th minute to break a tie and lift the Rapids over the Burn at Denver.

Chicago 3, D.C. United 1 -- Kelly Gray had a goal and an assist and the Fire also had an own goal in a victory over United at Chicago.