Box Score l Updated Stats

ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth men's soccer team had an offensive explosion on Tuesday, erupting for five goals in a 5-2 win over Cazenovia College at Golden Flyer Stadium.  Casimer Lopata-Linn and Christopher Rowland each scored their first career goals in the win.

Nazareth improves to 5-8-2 with the victory, while Cazenovia falls to 4-12.

Nazareth dominated the game from an offensive standpoint, notching 31 shots to the Wildcats 9, including holding a 21-4 advantage in the second half.

After a few quality chances in the opening moments of the contest, Nazareth put away an opportunity in the 12th minute.  Dereck France made a run up the left flank, centering a pass to Alessio DeMichele at the six-yard box for a tap-in goal.  It was France's first career point.

In the 25^th minute the visitors evened up the score on a free kick from 25-yards out.  Jake Robson scored his team-leading 10^th goal on a shot that went over the wall and clanked in off the near post.

Robson nearly gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead at the five minute mark as his left footed shot was pushed aside by Nate Ripic.

It was 1-1 at the break.

Ben Garcia had two dangerous opportunities in the opening moments of second.  His first attempt was a breakaway shot that the goalie pushed away, while the second was a header off a corner that went just wide of the post.

He made good on his third opportunity, bringing the ball up the right side and firing a shot to the far post in the 54^th minute for a 2-1 lead.

The strong offensive half for Garcia continued in the 62^nd minute as he chipped a shot over the goalie off the crossbar before bouncing down on the goal line. 

Cazenovia, extremely quiet in the half, converted a chance in the 67^th minute to even the score.

Nazareth responded, however, just over a minute later as Casimer Lopata-Linn scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal.  Lopata-Linn took a pass from Rowland at the 18 for a one-time shot into the side netting.  Rowland now has a team-leading six assists on the year. 

The offensive onslaught continued in the 84^th minute as Rowland joined in on the goal action.  Garcia played a cross to Rowland on the back side, where he settled and placed it into the goal.

Dylan Toscano took advantage of a free kick with five seconds remaining just outside the 18 for the final goal of the game.  He ripped a shot around the wall that five-holed the Cazenovia keeper.

Ripic made five saves in net for the Golden Flyers.

Nazareth will close out the season on Saturday when it hosts Utica College at 1 p.m. for Senior Day at Golden Flyer Stadium.