Men’s Soccer Loses to Eastern Nazarene, 4-2

QUINCY, Mass. – Suffolk men's soccer suffered a 4-2 setback to Eastern Nazarene after Charlie Swann netted a hat trick to propel the Lions past the Rams in non-conference action Wednesday night at Veterans Stadium.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Eastern Nazarene 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1-1) | Eastern Nazarene (2-1-0)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a 50-minute lightening delay, Eastern Nazarene put the first mark on the board 13 minutes into the contest when Swann converted a breakaway past by Leon Zaffonato into the first goal of the day.  

The Rams leveled the playing field 12 minutes later when Simon Velez Angel fired a long range shot to equalize the contest at 1-all. Emilio Tenacio assisted on the goal.  

The tied game did not remain around long as Swann and Zaffonato teamed up again less than five minutes later. This time Swann headed the rock in between the pipes on a deflection with Zaffonato helping on the marker.  

It remained a one-goal game as the teams headed to the locker rooms for the intermission.  

In the 73rd minute the Lions lead lengthened as Edmilson Centeio headed in a cross from Prem Subedi to add insurance to the hosts' advantage.  

Eastern Nazarene's dynamic duo of Swann and Zaffonato partnered again to take a 4-1 cushion into the final 10 minutes of regulation. Swann knocked down a one-timer inside the box to complete his hat trick, all of which was set-up by Zaffonato.  

With a three-goal distance to make up, Suffolk attempted a comeback. Velez Angel did just that as he turned a header into his second goal of the night thanks to Trevor Murdock's help to trim the margin in half with 4:21 to go.  

The Rams retaliation was cut off by the Lions, who controlled the possessions for the majority of the final minutes, limiting the blue-and-gold to just one more shot to maintain the 4-2 decision in their favor. 

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Tom Bennett recorded five saves in a complete-game effort in net for the Rams. 
• Tyler Ferreira registered five saves to backstop the Lions to victory.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Velez Angel potted both of Suffolk's scorers. 
• Murdock and Tenacio each recorded one assist apiece. 
• Both teams had five corner opportunities. 
• The Rams held the advantage in shots, 19-16, while Eastern Nazarene edged out Suffolk in shots on target, 9-7.   

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Eastern Nazarene renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since 2014 and 12th time overall. 
• The Rams moved to 9-3 in the all-time series versus the Lions. 
• Velez Angel has netted at least a goal in back-to-back games for the first time this season and second time in his career as the two-game goal streak is the longest for the Rams since he strung three consecutive contests with one goal together Oct. 3-10, 2018.  
• Velez Angel had his second-ever multi-goal, first since netting a hat trick in a 7-0 win at Rivier, Oct. 11, 2017. 
• Murdock registered his first point as a Ram with an assist. 
• Tenacio tallied his first collegiate point. 

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk heads back to the friendly confines of James A. Sartori Stadium's pitch at East Boston Memorial Park for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 7 against Lesley. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m., following the Suffolk women's game against Fitchburg State, which will begin at 12 p.m.