NORTON, Mass. – Behind a hat-trick from senior forward Travis Blair (Hastings, N.Y./Hastings), the Wheaton College men's soccer team defeated Saint Joseph's College, 6-0, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Keefe Field.
Blair recorded his second career hat-trick with goals coming at 36-seconds into the game, 23:27 and 57:36 and he also dished out an assist on first-year Liam Daniels' (New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) first collegiate marker at 21:51 for seven points total in the contest.
Junior Kevin Gil (Pawtucket, R.I./Wheeler School) also scored in the 54th minute, while senior captain Luke Finkelstein (Peabody, Mass./Peabody) rounded out the scoring with an unassisted tally at 59:43.
Wheaton junior goalkeeper Jackson Towle (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) stopped three shots to pick up his third career win and first-ever shutout. Monks' junior goalkeeper Scott Benner (Post Falls, Idaho/Post Falls) made a season-high six saves in the loss.
Blair needed just 36-seconds into the second match of the 2014 season to find his scoring touch after leading the Lyons with a team-high 17 goals last season as he put home a feed in the middle of the box from Finkelstein for a quick 1-0 lead.
After Daniels converted Blair's chip pass over the Monks' back line for a 2-0 advantage at 21:51, Blair made it 3-0 with a successful penalty kick in the 24th minute. Overall in his career, Blair is now 6-for-6 in penalty kick attempts in a Wheaton uniform.
Blair and Finkelstein connected again in the 58th minute to help complete the hat-trick as Finkelstein lofted a perfect cross near the left side of the box to Blair for an easy strike.
The Lyons held a 23-8 differential in shots and a 7-3 margin in corner kicks.
Wheaton (2-0), who is now 3-0-0 all-time against the Monks (0-2), hosts Western New England University on Wednesday, September 3 at 4 p.m. Saint Joseph's travels to Thomas College next Wednesday for a 4 p.m. matchup.
COURTESY OF WHEATON COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.