Men’s Soccer Overpowers Wheelock in Non-Conference Clash, 9-0

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team scored seven times in the first half en route to a 9-0 win over Wheelock Thursday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The victory propels the Lions to 3-1 on the fall while the Wildcats slide to 0-4-0 overall.

Eastern Nazarene wasted no time before jumping out to an early 1-0 advantage. Senior Scott Hansen (Middletown Springs, Vt.) employed a nifty heel flick to deposit his first goal of the season in the second minute of play. Rookie Andrew Nelson (Burtonsville, Md.) set up Hansen with a cross from the left wing.

The Lions tacked on their second goal of the contest in the sixth minute as Nelson slotted a shot into the lower right corner of the cage after Hansen's pass put him through on a breakaway.

The hosts added a score in the ninth minute to push their lead to 3-0. Nelson curled a right-footed shot into the back of the net for his second of the game and fourth of the season. Omar Cruz (Gaithersburg, Md.) picked up an assist on the goal.

Eastern Nazarene increased the margin to 4-0 in the 28th minute as David Eddings (Endicott, N.Y.) notched his first career goal. Faries Gray (Bridgewater, Mass.) dribbled down the left wing before sliding a pass to Eddings in front of the net for a tap-in.

The Lions tallied their fifth goal of the first half in the 35th minute as Ryan Davis (Amherst, N.H.) booted home his first collegiate marker off of a feed from Eddings.

Davis netted his second tally of the match in the 39th minute after Jermaine Hibbert (Bridgeport, Conn.) dribbled around the Wheelock goalkeeper and crossed the ball to widen the gap to 6-0 in favor of the home side.

Eastern Nazarene notched its seventh score of the game just before halftime. Michael Peter (Darlington, Md.) raced past a defender before poking the ball into the lower left corner of the goal for his first of the year in the 44th minute. Gray earned an assist on the hosts' final score of the half.

The Lions headed into the intermission sporting a commanding 7-0 lead after outshooting the Wildcats 22-3 in the opening 45 minutes of action.

The hosts netted a pair of goals in the second half to grab a 9-0 advantage. Gray volleyed home his first tally of the season after Davis nodded the ball back to him in the 74th minute. Eddings buried his second marker of the match in the 75th minute on a diving header off of a cross by Jonathan Stiles (Duxbury, Mass.).

Senior Jake Johnson (Mount Bethel, Pa.) started the game between the posts before giving way to sophomore Jameson MacFarland (Jacksonville, Fla.) after being untested in 19 minutes. MacFarland played the remainder of the match in goal for the Lions and made three saves.

Sunshine Shearer stopped seven shots on the day in net for Wheelock.

Eastern Nazarene generated 32 shots in the contest while the Wildcats attempted five.

Up next, the Lions head west to kick off play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference at Western New England September 13.