Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – Senior forward Leo Yang (Seoul, South Korea/Queen of Peace [N.J.]) netted three second half goals to help lift Felician University to a 4-0 non-conference men's soccer victory over visiting Shepherd University on Wednesday afternoon at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.
The victory was the first collegiate win and shutout for Felician senior goalkeeper George Hernandez (Paterson, N.J./PCTI), who finished with two saves. It also marked the first Golden Falcon triumph for head coach Brandon Levine.
Felician (1-1) dented the scoreboard on its first shot of the game. Sophomore Carlos Alonso (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain/Lycee Francais Jules Verne) played a ball laterally to graduate student Xabier Aizpuru (Barakaldo, Spain/Beurko BHI). After taking two steps onto the pass, Aizpuru ripped a low shot from about 25 yards away into the lower left corner of the net with seven minutes, three seconds, elapsed.
Opportunities were minimal for both sides for the balance of the period, and the Golden Falcons carried the 1-0 edge into halftime. The second half belonged to Yang. He scored unassisted goals in the 61st and 82nd minutes, sandwiched by a 71st minute score with help from sophomore Michael Vogel (Burgkirchen, Germany/Aventinus Gymnazium Burghausen). It was the first Felician hat trick since Chris McLaughlin talled three goals against Shepherd nearly two years earlier during a 5-2 win in Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Felician amassed a 13-6 shot advantage, including 9-1 after halftime. Yang was active all afternoon, launching eight shots. Ram senior keeper Jose Machado Orellana (Charleston, W. Va./Capital) was credited with three saves.
Levine earned 13 victories during two seasons as the head coach of Purchase College (2018-19).
The Golden Falcons conclude a season-opening three-game homestand on Saturday when they welcome Franklin Pierce University to Lyndhurst Rec. FPU is ranked No. 3 in the most recent national NCAA Division II coaches' poll.
