NEWTON, Mass. – Sophomore Jake Szymko (Upton, Mass.) collected a goal and an assist Saturday afternoon as Eastern Connecticut State University defeated Lasell College, 3-0, in non-conference men's soccer action at Taylor Field.

Szymko set up sophomore Danny Shayler (Avon, Conn.) for his first goal of the season with a nice crossing pass from the right corner in the 32nd minute to give the Warriors the only goal they would need. Szymko then scored for Eastern five minutes later when he picked up a loose ball near the left post and deposited his second goal of the season into the net.

Lasell nearly cut the margin in half with four minutes to go in the half but a shot by junior Andrew Flores-McKenna (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) sailed over the top of the goal. Eastern took a 2-0 lead, and an 11-3 advantage in shots, into the break.

Freshman Will Toomey (Willington, Conn.) added an insurance goal for the Warriors five minutes into the second half, converting a through-ball from sophomore defender Brandan D'Acry (West Hartford, Conn.) for his second goal of the year.

Eastern finished with a 15-4 margin in shots, and a 7-2 difference in corner kicks. Three Warrior goalkeepers combined on the shutout, as senior Ryan Murphy (Cromwell, Conn.) made two saves in the first half and sophomores Jack VanRooyen (Wayland, Mass.) and Kyle Boutot (Tolland, Conn.) split time in the second half with neither having to make a save.

Lasell used two keepers as well, with junior Jackson Burhans (Berlin, N.Y.) making six saves on nine shots in 56 minutes, and classmate Teo Cugno (Medford, Mass.) making two stops in the final 34 minutes.

The Lasers, 2-7-2 overall, play at home again on Monday at noon with a non-conference match-up against Nichols College. Eastern Conn., 9-2-0, returns to action Sunday at 6:00 p.m. with a non-conference affair at Elms College. 

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