Men’s Soccer Picks Up GNAC Road Win, 4-2

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Federico Lavini-Ayalla (Weston, Fla.) notched Regis' first hat trick in eight years as the Pride pulled away in the second half to defeat Mitchell College, 4-2, Wednesday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer match at Alumni Field.

Mitchell (0-7-1, 0-5 GNAC) controlled play early with three shots within the first five minutes, but then the action moved to the other side of the field. In the ninth minute, Joey Davila (Bristol, Conn.) sent a corner kick into the box, and Lavini-Ayalla met the ball with a header that found the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

The Mariners regained the momentum and tied the match in the 19^th minute on a goal by Dylan Lucey. After a foul by Mitchell in the 26^th minute, a Regis free kick into the box eventually found Lavini-Ayalla's right foot as he beat the Mariner goalie to the ball and sent it into the net for his second goal of the day.

The home team would tie the match again as Nathan Da Cruz scored in the 32^nd minute. The Mariners would outshoot the Pride in the first half, 16-3, including an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal, but Regis goalie Chris Alcon (Weston, Fla.) would make six saves before halftime to keep the contest close.

Just over five minutes into the second half, Dane Peterson (San Diego, Calif.) drew a Mitchell foul within the box that created a penalty kick opportunity. Lavini-Ayalla converted the shot to complete his hat trick, the first by a Regis men's soccer player since Derek Triana scored three goals at Wheelock Oct. 26, 2016.

The Pride added an insurance goal in the 58^th minute, as Haroun Mafhoum (Bellingham, Mass.) sent a thru ball forward and Agu Silva-Olivera (Lunenburg, Mass.) outran his defender, corralled the pass, and beat the Mitchell goalie with a shot for his second goal of the season.

Regis played the final 36 minutes a man up after Mitchell's Juan Pina was sent off upon receiving a red card. That allowed the Pride to enjoy a 12-3 shot advantage in the second half to hold onto their lead the rest of the way, with the Mariners unable to put a shot on goal after halftime.

Alcon picked up his third victory of the season after finishing with the six saves he earned in the first half. Mitchell goalie Dylan Kinsella was also credited with six saves, five of them coming in the second half as he attempted to keep his team in the match.

Regis College (3-4-1, 3-3 GNAC) hosts University of Saint Joseph as part of Regis Fest Saturday, Sept. 28, beginning at 4 p.m.