Box Score BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Junior forward Griffin Luczek (Lee, NH) recorded his first career hat trick as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team opened a season with a shutout win for the seventh time in 12 seasons under head coach Greg DeVito in a 6-0 victory over first-time opponent Medgar Evers College Saturday evening at the Aviator Sports Complex.
Luczek, who brought four career goals in 35 career matches into the opener, gave Eastern the lead for good when he connected on the first shot of the match just 73 seconds into play. He made it 2-0 16 minutes later and the Warriors went on to hand the Cougars their 12th shutout loss in their last 17 contests.
Sophomore midfielder Jake Pendl (Cromwell) and sophomore forward Jake Szymko (Upton, MA) added their first career goals and junior forward Max Parent (Yarmouth, MA) -- last year's leading goal scorer with six -- added the seventh of his career. Contributing the first points of their careers with assists in their first career games were midfielders Will Toomey (Willington)– who had two – and Joel Richards (Bridgeport), and forward Zack Kindall (Ellington). Sophomore defender Adam Boutot, limited to five matches last year due to injury, also added his first career point with an assist on Luczek's first goal.
Senior Ryan Murphy (Cromwell) and sophomore Kyle Boutot (Tolland) combined on the shutout, Murphy making four saves over the first 45 minutes for his 29th career win. Last year, Murphy blanked Hobart, 1-0, in the opener after shutting out Babson College in his career debut in 2015.
Eastern visits Framingham State University Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in a non-conference match.
