#3 Men’s Soccer Advances to NECC Championship Match with 6-1 Victory at #2 New England College

HENNIKER, N.H.- The third-seeded Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team earned a 6-1 win at second-seeded New England College in the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament semifinals Thursday afternoon to reach its first-ever NECC Tournament Finals.

The Lions improve to 15-3-0 on the year with the victory and move on to the NECC Tournament Championship game for the first time in program history November 10. The Pilgrims finish the season with an 8-11-0 overall record with the result.

The visitors grabbed a 1-0 edge in the 15th minute. Leon Zaffonato (Canela, Brazil) headed home his ninth goal of the season off of a cross by Bryan Vargas (San Jose, Costa Rica).

Eastern Nazarene doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 27th minute. Zaffonato lasered a left-footed volley into the back of the net to collect his 10th marker of the year and second of the match.

The Lions carried a 2-0 advantage into the halftime intermission after generating 13 first-half shots while New England College fired five attempts.

The guests tacked on their third goal of the game in the 62nd minute to extend their lead to 3-0. Stanley Elie (Roslindale, Mass.) notched his first tally of the season with a header from the top of the box.

Eastern Nazarene added a score in the 68th minute to widen the gap to 4-0. Charlie Swann (London, England) buried his league-leading 17th goal of the year, firing a one-time shot into the back of the cage after a feed from Prem Subedi (Scranton, Pa.).                                                      

The Lions stretched the margin to 5-0 with their fifth goal of the day. Jose Ruiz (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain) knocked in his first marker of the fall as Kirby Georgeon (Brockton, Mass.) provided the assist.

The visitors added a goal in the 83rd minute to expand their advantage to 6-0 as Sheelens Ostine (Quincy, Mass.) bagged his second tally of the season.

The Pilgrims got on the board in the 87th minute to cut the deficit to 6-1. Panagiotis Galatas netted his sixth goal of the year for the home side.

Eastern Nazarene concluded the contest with 26 shots while New England College produced 17 attempts on the afternoon.

Junior Tim Eddings (Endicott, N.Y.) posted seven saves in his seventh-consecutive start between the pipes.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will travel to top-seeded Lesley in the NECC Championship match Sunday, November 10.