Vargas Tallies Two as Men’s Soccer Claims 3-1 Win Over Castleton

NORTH QUINCY, Mass.- Behind a pair of goals by Bryan Vargas (San Jose, Costa Rica), the Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team posted a 3-1 victory over Castleton Wednesday evening at Creedon Field.

The Lions climb to 5-4-0 on the year with the win while the Spartans sink to 2-7-0 overall.

The home side opened the scoring in the sixth minute to snag an early 1-0 edge. Leonardo Castro (Katy, Texas) buried his second goal of the season as he finished off a right-footed cross from Sheelens Ostine (Quincy, Mass.).

The visitors leveled the match at 1-1 in the 30th minute as Adolphe Alfani notched his team-leading fourth goal of the year.

Eastern Nazarene reclaimed a one-goal advantage in the 35th minute, 2-1. Vargas drilled a penalty kick into the back of the net to collect his second marker of the fall.

The Lions carried the 2-1 lead into the halftime intermission along with a 13-3 margin in shots.

Castleton was awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute, an opportunity to pull even in the contest. Eastern Nazarene goalkeeper Tyler Ferreira (Berkley, Mass.) denied the attempt with a diving save to his right to maintain the hosts' advantage.  

The Lions tacked on their third goal of the game in the waning moments to extend their lead to 3-1. Vargas slotted home his team-best third strike of the season in the 90th minute with a left-footed shot from a tight angle. Michael Frotscher (Tramin, Italy) registered his first collegiate assist on the match's final tally.

Eastern Nazarene racked up 24 shots on the night while limiting the Spartans to just seven attempts.

Ferreira finished with one save in 60 minutes of action in his fifth start of the year. Antonio Soto Valente (Maracaibo, Venezuela) closed out the contest between the pipes with 30 minutes of relief action in his fifth appearance of the fall.

Up next, the Lions return to the pitch October 2 to battle Elms at Creedon Field.