By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Kirtland, Ohio---Matt Almester (St. John's Jesuit/Rossford, Ohio) netted a hat trick to lead the Owens Community College men's soccer team past Lakeland Community College 6-1 on the road today.

In a battle of Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) teams, Hector Aguirre Jr.(Rossford/Rossford, Ohio) scored his first goal of the season just 4:48 into the match to give Owens an early lead.

Aguirre Jr. then drew a foul in the box that led to a successful penalty kick from Almester at the 21:16 mark. Almester added his second goal in the 38th minute to give Owens a 3-0 lead.

A failure to clear a ball led to Lakeland's lone goal, which came in the 40th minute.

Michael Dingwall (Riverdale/Lehigh Acres, Fla.) helped Owens respond four minutes later wtih a goal in the 44th minute as his team took a 4-1 lead into the break.

In the second half, Almester finished his hat trick in the 53rd minute and Joa'o Vitor Batista (Crescer Podium/Divinopolis, Brazil) put one past the goalkeeper in the 81st minute.

Assists came from Almester, Trae Green (Blessed Pope John Paul II C.S.S./Scarborough, Ontario, Canada), Hakeem Sadler (Quality Academics/Greater Portmore, Jamaica). Green had two assists, while Almester and Sadler each had one apiece.

Owens is now 3-4 overall and 2-1 in OCCAC play. After concluding a five game road trip today, the team returns home for three games beginning Saturday at 3 p.m. vs Lake Michigan.