LEICESTER, Mass. – The Eastern Nazarene Lions held the Becker Hawks in check on Wednesday afternoon, earning a 3-0 win, on the road, for their first victory of the year.

THE BASICS

April 7, 2021

Alumni Field

Score: Eastern Nazarene 3 – Becker 0

Records: The Becker College Hawks 0-2-1 | The Eastern Nazarene College Lions 1-1-0

GAME SUMMARY

Eastern Nazarene was first on the board midway through the first half on the benefit of an own goal against the Hawks.

A cross from the right-wing into the box from sophomore Carlos Moya (Oviedo, Spain) was made into a threatening position and as a Hawks defender attempt to clear the danger, the attempted clearance was knocking into the Becker net, giving the Lions a 1-0 edge.

With 3:43 remaining in the first half, the Lions doubled their lead on a fine display of passing to go ahead 2-0 just prior to the half.

On a cross from the left-wing by junior Didac Gomes Castellvi (Tarragona, Spain), Lions senior Kirby Georgeon (Brockton, Mass.), laid the ball off to sophomore Jaimie Romero (Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain) near the penalty spot.

Romero struck the ball perfectly, firing a shot into the far-side netting, to put ENC ahead by two at the half.

Becker nearly cut the deficit in half with their best chance of the afternoon in the 63^rd minute on a free-kick taken by freshman Adam Stanneck (Washington, N.J.).

Following a foul call on the Lions, Stanneck lined up a shot from 30-yards out. His right-footed effort bent around the wall but could not make its way inside the post, leaving the Hawks down 2-0.

The Lions added another in the 86^th minute on the first of the season by sophomore Bryan Vargas (San Jose, Costa Rica).

Vargas received a pass from senior Leon Zaffonato (Canela, Brazil) inside the penalty area and finished the shot with a left-footed strike on the way to the 3-0 win.

FOR THE HAWKS

• Freshman Kade Ratcliffe (Las Vegas, Nev.) was credited with the Hawks lone shot on goal.
• Freshman goalie Luke Speers (Collegeville, Pa.) matched a career-high with seven saves but drops to 0-2-1 on the season with the loss.

FOR THE LIONS

• Romero's goal is his first of the season. The assists from Gomes Castellvi and Georgeon are their first assists of the year.
• Freshman keeper Antonio Soto Valente (Maracaibo, Venezuela) made one save, recording his first career shutout and improving to 1-1-0 in the win.

UP NEXT

The Hawks return to Alumni Field on Sunday, April 11 to host Northern Essex Community College at noon. The Lions have 10 days until they find the field again, travelling to Bridgewater State on April 17 for a 5:00 p.m. kick.