Men’s Soccer Suffers 5-1 Setback to Salve Regina

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team absorbed a 5-1 loss to Salve Regina Tuesday evening at Veterans' Memorial Stadium.

The Lions fall to 0-11-0 on the year and 0-5-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the outcome. The Seahawks improve to 7-3-3 overall and 2-2-1 in league action with the win.

The visitors snagged a 1-0 edge in the 38th minute as Matthew O'Donnell converted a penalty kick to collect his fourth goal of the season.

The home side equalized in the 44th minute, leveling the match at 1-1. Joao Costa (Framingham, Mass.) drilled a free kick into the far, upper corner of the cage to net his first tally of the year.

The two teams headed into the halftime intermission knotted at 1-1. Eastern Nazarene managed six shots in the opening 45 minutes of play while Salve Regina attempted 14 shots.

Salve Regina regained a one-goal advantage in the 63rd minute. John Julian knocked in a loose ball for his second marker of the year after Owen Stevenson's initial effort was parried by the goalkeeper.

The Seahawks stretched their lead to 3-1 as PJ Criscione bagged his second goal of the season in the 72nd minute.

The guests tacked on their fourth goal of the match in the 78th minute. Owen Stevenson rifled a low shot from distance into the bottom left corner of the cage to notch his fourth marker of the year.

Salve Regina chalked up its fifth score of the contest in the 85th minute to widen the margin to 5-1. Jared Warren buried his sixth goal of the fall off of a feed by Evan Hilbie.

Eastern Nazarene finished with seven shots on the night while the Seahawks racked up 32 chances.

Sophomore Victor Mendoza (Cathedral, Calif.) registered seven saves in his sixth start of the year between the posts.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene hits the road for a non-conference tilt at Pine Manor October 12.