Williamsburg, KY – Nico Romero recorded a first-half hat trick, while Dunsting Cohen Jr. added a brace as the University of the Cumberlands men's soccer team rolled to a 7-0 win over the University of Northwestern Ohio Sunday afternoon at the UC Soccer Complex. With the win, the Patriots improve to 6-4-1 on the season.
Cumberlands controlled the possession early, earning a pair of corner kicks in the opening seven minutes before breaking through in the 13'. Conor McVeigh set up Romero for his seventh goal of the season to give UC a 1-0 advantage. Less than two minutes later, McVeigh connected with Cohen Jr., who found the back of the net to double the lead.
After Zachary Dean made a save in the 20', the Patriots continued to put on the pressure. McVeigh picked up his third assist of the afternoon in the 24', finding Cohen Jr. for his second goal of the match and fifth of the season. Romero followed in the 26' off an assist from Cohen Jr. to extend the advantage to 4-0.
Romero completed the hat trick in the 33', converting from the penalty spot for his team-leading ninth goal of the season and sending the Patriots into halftime with a 5-0 advantage.
Cumberlands continued to add to its advantage after the break. Gabriel Canineu set up Yota Ishikawa in the 56', who finished for his first goal of the season to make it 6-0. Canineu added his second assist of the match in the 70', finding Luca Piazza for his first goal of the season and the 7-0 final.
The Patriots limited UNOH to just two shots in the match, with Dean making two saves before Gabriel Maia entered in goal for the final 21 minutes. UC finished with 10 shots, including seven on frame, while both teams earned five corner kicks. The clean sheet marked Cumberlands' second straight and fourth in its last five matches.
Cumberlands returns to the pitch Thursday, October 8, when the Patriots host #1 Cumberland University (Tenn.) at the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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