Top-seeded Men’s Soccer Advances to NECC Championship with 5-0 Win over Lesley

QUINCY, Mass.- Powered by a hat trick from Leonardo Castro (Katy, Texas), the top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team defeated No. 4 seed Lesley 5-0 Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium to punch its ticket to the New England Collegiate Conference finals.

The Lions improve to 13-6-1 on the year with the win while the Lynx finish with a 0-17-1 overall record.

The home team established a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute as Castro found the back of the net to chalk up his third goal of the season.

Eastern Nazarene doubled its advantage to 2-0 with a score in the 25th minute. Castro fired in his fourth marker of the year and second of the match as Michael Frotscher (Tramin, Italy) provided the assist.

The Lions widened the margin in the 29th minute to 3-0. Guillermo Garcia (Leon, Spain) knocked in his fifth goal of the season while Sheelens Ostine (Quincy, Mass.) and Castro each collected assists.

The hosts manufactured 14 shots in the opening frame while Lesley managed three shot attempts.

Eastern Nazarene stretched its lead to 4-0 in the 54th minute. Castro completed the hat-trick with his fifth tally of the campaign as Jorge Gonzalez (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain) and Bryan Vargas (San Jose, Costa Rica) each picked up helpers.

The Lions tacked on their fifth score of the night to extend their advantage to 5-0. Gonzalez bagged his first collegiate goal as he tapped in a low cross off the boot of Garcia.

The home side concluded the contest with 27 shot attempts while the visitors were limited to nine.

Tyler Ferreira (Berkley, Mass.) recorded five saves in his 10th start of the fall between the pipes and Antonio Soto Valente (Maracaibo, Venezuela) finished the match in net.

Michael Bolduc made 11 saves on the night in goal for Lesley.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will look to claim its second-straight league crown as it battles No. 2 seed New England College in the NECC championship match November 7.