Lions Nip Vikings 1-0

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Denser Martinez (Cumberland, R.I.) netted the only goal of the game as Eastern Nazarene held off Salem State 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Shrewcraft Field in the second game of the MCLA Men's Soccer Tournament. The Lions improve to 2-0 while the Vikings dip to 1-1.

With less than 10 seconds remaining in the opening half, Eastern Nazarene kept an errant pass inbounds, allowing Bryan Vargas (San Jose, Costa Rica) to find Martinez all alone in front of the Salem State goal, who converted the shot just before time expired.   

Salem State's defense had allowed just one shot on goal prior to Martinez's score in a half that saw just five shots combined remain on target. Leith Khan (Shrewsbury, Mass.) started in net for the Vikings and made one stop before being replaced by Jake Howard (North Attleboro, Mass. ) at halftime.

Howard kept Eastern Nazarene off the scoreboard in the second half, making four saves, but Salem State struggled to challenge Lions' goalkeeper Antonio Soto Valente  (Maracaibo, Venezuela), who finished the game with six saves.

The Vikings took six corners to just one for Eastern Nazarene after halftime, but managed just two shots on net.