ENC Men’s Soccer Drops Home Opener to Nichols, 3-1

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team suffered its first league loss Saturday evening, falling to Nichols 3-1 amid the pouring rain at Veteran's Memorial Stadium. The Lions progress to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison improve to 2-2 on the year and 1-0 in league matches with the win.

Nichols got on the board first in the 12th minute as Andrew Conklin knocked a loose ball inside the six-yard box into the net. Christian Cole heaved a throw-in towards the box which landed inside the penalty area for Conklin to bury his first of the season.

The Bison doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 17th minute as Scott Coderre converted a penalty kick for his first tally of the season.

Eastern Nazarene cut the deficit in half, 2-1, as Josh Kaplan (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) picked up his third marker of the fall in the 30th minute of play. Edgar Arceo (Minden, Nev.) lofted a free kick into the box and Kaplan latched on to the service and headed the ball past the onrushing keeper.

The visitors restored the margin to two goals in the 41st minute as Coderre netted his second of the match. Thomas Miller rolled a low cross into space for Coderre to run onto inside the penalty area. Coderre poked the ball past the Lions' netminder for his second score of the year.

Nichols held a 9-5 advantage in shots through 45 minutes of action while each squad earned a corner kick.

The second half was evenly contested as neither team could find the back of the net. The Bison edged Eastern Nazarene 5-4 in second half shots to finish the contest with a 14-9 gap.

Jake Johnson (Mount Bethel, Pa.) stopped six shots in goal for the Lions. Alex Geas registered a pair of saves on the evening for Nichols.

"We didn't play our best in the first half and it put us in a hole. I was proud to see the team get one back after the PK," said head coach Ramo Badohoun. "I was pleased with our play in the second half. I felt that we played well in the back but it's always hard to play from behind."

The Lions return to action September 12 as they visit Salve Regina for a Commonwealth Coast Conference tilt.