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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth routed visiting Alfred 5-1 in a men's Empire 8 Conference soccer game on Saturday. Senior Scott Duarte scored three goals while classmate Tommy Rocco and freshman Lucas Bennett each tallied one goal.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 3-3 in the Empire 8 and 6-10 overall. The Saxons drop to 1-5 in conference contests and 5-12 overall. Nazareth needs Utica (3-2 Empire 8 and 8-9 overall) to defeat Elmira (2-3 Empire 8 and 7-9 overall) to earn the fourth spot in the upcoming Empire 8 Tournament, November 6th and 9th.

The first half featured four goals, including two by Duarte. Duarte scored his first goal of the season 13:32 into the contest after receiving a pass from classmate Simon Mounsdon. Mounsdon dribbled down the left wing before sending a well-placed pass inside the box to Duarte. Duarte ripped his shot to the left of Alfred's goalie. Duarte added his second goal about five minutes later after receiving another pass by Mounsdon. Duarte was left in front of the Saxons' goal with a defender covering the net after Alfred's goalie, Sam Guy, left the net to challenge for the ball.

Alfred's Richard Lander temporarily trimmed the Saxons' deficit to one goal with just over four minutes to play in the half. Lander took advantage of a defensive miscue as he intercepted a Nazareth pass at the top of the Golden Flyers' box. Lander's shot was over Nazareth goalie, Nate Ripic's outstretched arms.

It took the Golden Flyers only 70 seconds to reclaim their two-goal advantage as freshman Lucas Bennett popped a shot over Alfred's sliding goalie. Bennett's attempt trickled over the goal line before the Saxon defender was able to stop it. Sophomore Ben Garcia was credited with the assist on the goal.

Both teams had additional scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes. With just over 23 minutes remaining in first half, Omar Mohamed broke away from the Golden Flyer defender inside the Nazareth box. Ripic came out of the net to challenge the shot, which forced Mohamed to try to chip the ball over his head. Mohamed got his shot off but his attempt was over the crossbar by about a foot to allow Nazareth to keep its two-goal lead. With about 15 minutes remaining in the half, sophomore Kieran McCoy's shot attempt was narrowly over the crossbar. McCoy charged to the net and redirected a cross as he slid toward the Alfred goal.

In the second half, Nazareth extended its lead to 4-1 on a free kick opportunity. Senior Jason Renfro placed the free kick around the six-yard box to Duarte. Duarte initially headed the ball to gain control then headed it again to the feet of Rocco. Rocco's goal came at the 58:28 mark. Less than eight minutes later, the Golden Flyers stretched their lead to four goals after Duarte scored off a rebound from a saved shot by classmate Luke Elston.

Ripic thwarted an Alfred free-kick opportunity with 30 minutes to play in regulation as he tipped the attempt just over the crossbar. The shot was from just outside the 18-yard box.

Nazareth finished with advantages in shots (21-12) and corner kick opportunities (6-2). Ripic finished with six saves to earn the victory. Sam Guy played the first 75:02 in Alfred's net and allowed all five of the Golden Flyers' goals and was credited with three saves. Matthew Unick relieved Guy in the final 14:58. Unick made two saves.