AIKEN, S.C. — Back on track.
After dropping consecutive narrow Peach Belt Conference matches, the Flagler College men's soccer team used a four-goal first half and
Matteo Costa's second hat trick of the year to get back into the win column behind a 5-0 victory at USC Aiken Wednesday afternoon.
"It was a good team effort today," Flagler head coach
Chris Kranjc said. "Matteo was very good in front of goal again and good to see others get some goals, as well. But, overall happy with performance as we move on to a very good North Georgia team."
Costa's performance moved him to a team-high 10 goals, which is atop the PBC and NCAA Division II for goals scored, and jumpstarted the Saints (3-4, 2-2) in a pivotal match. The Italian midfielder didn't waste any time finding the back of the net as he passed the ball past the defender before collecting it and scoring five minutes in on the Pacers (1-6, 0-4).
He scored again via a penalty kick just before the eighth minute, and then teammate
Jared Fuentes scored his first of the season as
Marc Birkelund crossed into the box from the left to make it 3-nil with just 10 erased.
In the 28th minute, Birkelund netted one for himself as
Zack Savage found him downfield to set up the goal into the bottom right. Out of halftime, Costa capped the scoring and secured his second hat trick this season — with his third and Flagler's final goal — in the 51st minute, thanks to an assist from
Joeran Osland. Costa was a perfect 3-for-3 on shots as all three were goals, while Fuentes and Birkelund had two shots on goal with one each finding the back of the net.
The clean sheet was the Saints first in seven games played as
Andrea Lubbia had two saves in 78:28 played before
Jared Marsano capped off the combined shutout.
Up Next: Flagler will be back at Saints Field this Saturday to welcome North Georgia to town at 1 p.m.
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