Lincoln Academy boys’ soccer team defeated Leavitt 4-0 on the road in make-up action on Sept. 8. Bo McLain netted three goals and Kyle O’Brien one.
“It was a great team effort. We carried the flow of the game, with passing and great possession,” coach KJ Anastasio said.
O’Brien gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game when he converted a beautiful through pass from Tom Masters. O’Brien broke free on the feed and “delicately put the ball into the corner,” Anastasio said.
McLain netted his first of a hat trick with 15 minutes remaining on a cross from Brandon Bonney deep on the right side. Leavitt made it a 2-1 game by the half on a shot from Christian Fullerton.
McLain struck twice more in the 2nd half to put the game out of reach of the Hornets. His second goal came on a penalty kick, after he drew a foul in the penalty box. He scored his third with five minutes remaining from 30 yards out on a pass from Nic Phinney.
Lincoln held a 24-8 edge in shots. Merritt Wotton made four saves in net for the Eagles and Ben Fullerton 16 for the Hornets.
Sam Predham netted two goals and Andrew Flanagan and Malcolm Steele one each.
“We came away feeling very well despite the loss,” to a very good team, Anastasio said of the Eagles solid 2nd half.
The game was a midfield battle from the start. The Eagles dominated play with their fancy footwork, but produced very few shot opportunities. The Mariners played tough physical defense, which kept the Eagles off balance and out of harms way for most of the game.
Merritt Wotton made six saves in net for Lincoln and Nathaniel Boggs eight saves for Oceanside.