LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore forward
Evan Jones scored his first career hat trick as the Holy Cross men's soccer team defeated UMass Lowell 5-4 at Cushing Field. The Crusaders improve to 1-3 on the year with the win, while the River Hawks fall to 1-2-1 overall.
Holy Cross was trailing 3-2 in the 70th minute, when senior midfielder
Matt McGonigle knocked home a cross from sophomore midfielder
Jon Klein to tie up the game. The Crusaders then pulled in front in the 78th minute on Jones' third goal of the night, after he took the ball across midfield and dribbled through four defenders before scoring from just outside the top of the penalty box.
UMass Lowell responded just 17 seconds later to tie the score at 4-4 on a goal by Jonathan Ferreira. The game would remain tied until the 87th minute, when Klein netted what proved to be the game-winning goal. After a header by Klein was initially saved, Jones knocked the rebound back into the goal mouth, where Klein blasted it home from four yards out in the center.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Josh Tubbs picked up the victory in his first career start, making four saves. Loucas Costeas recorded three saves for the River Hawks
UMass Lowell finished the game with a 16-12 advantage in shots, while Holy Cross held an 8-3 edge in corner kicks.
The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, Sept. 10, when they face Iona in their home opener at 1:00 p.m.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Jones' hat trick was the first by a Crusader since Sept. 21, 2013, when Joey DeVivo scored three times in a 4-1 win over Bryant.
• Klein finished the night with one goal and two assists for a career-high four points.
• Holy Cross' five goals scored were its most in a single game in exactly six years, since defeating Siena 5-0 on Sept. 6, 2016.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross men's soccer team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossMSoccer | @goholycross
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