Box Score Box
ROCHESTER, NY – The Golden Flyers opened up their season with a 5-3 victory at home against the SUNY Canton Kangaroos in men's soccer. The win brings Nazareth to 1-0 and drops SUNY Canton to 0-1.

The season opener was also the opening match of the 10th Annual Doug May Memorial Soccer Classic.

Sophomore transfer Michael Batiste scored two goals in his first game for the Golden Flyers. Sophomore Yacov Zohn, another transfer, added one goal and two assists and senior Simon Mounsdon scored once and added an assist. Nazareth rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to defeat SUNY Canton in its season opener for the third year in a row.

Nazareth began the first half controlling possession, but in the 17th minute Canton scored the first goal of the game. The Kangaroos were able to slip past the Nazareth defense when SUNY Canton's Hunter Mowery slid the ball across the goal to the foot of Nick Escalante who put the ball in the back of the net.

The next three goals were scored within a four-minute span staring with Nazareth in the 32nd minute. Zohn took a shot from inside the 18-yard box, creating a rebound. Batiste took advantage of the rebound and drove the ball past SUNY Canton's Evan Drew, earning his first career goal with the Golden Flyers. Just minutes later, the Kangaroos worked the ball down the field with Jose Menendez crossing the ball through the top of the box to teammate Tyler Gallagher who launched the ball past Nazareth's J.P. Horan in the 35th minute of play. Not to be outdone, Mounsdon deflected the ball off the post to beat the keeper, tying the score at 2 in the 36th minute. Senior Ryan Foley assisted the goal.

The Golden Flyers outshot the Kangaroos 12-5 in the first half.

Nazareth started play in the second half with a shot on goal immediately following kick-off. Not letting up, the Golden Flyers earned three more scoring chances in less than 10 minutes of play. In the 55th minute, junior Brian Lang threw the ball to Zohn's head, who flicked it on to Batiste. Batiste headed the ball past the keeper, giving Nazareth a 3-2 edge and earning his second goal of the game.

Less than five minutes later, SUNY Canton's Marvin Palmer played a through ball to teammate Abdulai Jagana who beat the Nazareth defense and slid the ball into the goal, evening the score at three.

Not giving up, the Golden Flyers took a 4-3 lead when Mounsdon passed the ball to Zohn in the box. Zohn beat the Canton defender on the dribble and fired the ball into the top of the net, earning his first career goal with the Golden Flyers. In the 71st minute, Zohn drove the ball in the box to the foot of sophomore Ramez Al-Hebshi, who one-touched the ball into the back of the net to earn a 5-3 lead and his first career goal as a Golden Flyer.
Nazareth played tough team defense to keep the score 5-3 in their favor.

The Golden Flyers look to earn another victory Saturday evening at 5p.m. against the Brockport Golden Eagles to conclude the 10th Annual Doug May Memorial Soccer Classic.