Men's Soccer Blanks Mount Ida, 2-0

QUINCY, Mass. – The Eastern Nazarene College men's soccer team opened up a six-match home stand with a 2-0 victory over Mount Ida Monday evening under the lights at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The result elevates the Lions to 4-6-2 overall while the Mustangs dip to 4-5-1 on the year.

"I am proud of the team and the players for the way they have been carrying themselves lately. I am particularly proud of the increasing leadership that some of the members of the team have been showcasing," said head coach Ramo Badohoun. "These good results are a product of the tenacity in our defensive play and the results have been a long time coming."

Neither side could find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes as the two teams headed into the halftime break knotted at 0-0.

The hosts held a 9-4 advantage in shots while both squads fired two shots on target in the first frame. Eastern Nazarene earned three corner kicks in the first half and conceded a pair.

In the 69th minute, Josh Kaplan (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) put the Lions ahead 1-0 with his fourth tally of the season. Kaplan converted a penalty kick after Scott Hansen (Middletown Springs, Vt.) drew a foul in the box.

Jake Johnson (Mount Bethel, Pa.) preserved the shutout with a critical save in the 73rd minute. Johnson rejected Carlos Martinez's penalty kick opportunity, making a diving save to his left.

Eastern Nazarene stretched its lead to two goals in the 79th minute. Kaplan headed a corner kick on frame that the visitors' goalkeeper was able to deflect off of the crossbar. Sophomore Jared Corbin (Fallston, Md.) was on the doorstep to knock the rebound into the open net.

The Lions outshot the Mustangs 16-13 on the night while owning a 6-5 margin in corner kicks earned.

Johnson finished the match with three saves in goal for Eastern Nazarene. Matt Pils stopped four shots on the evening for Mount Ida.

The Lions will play their second of six-straight home matches October 3 as they host non-conference foe Clark at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 5:30 pm.