By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Matt Almester (St. John's Jesuit/Rossford, Ohio) completed a hat trick to give the Owens Community College men's soccer team a 6-0 win over Lakeland Community College at home today.

Almester also added an assist as Owens closed out conference play at 4-2 overall and in second place. The team improved to 9-7 overall heading into Saturday's 1 p.m. match at home against Monroe (N.Y.) Community College.

Just over 20 minutes into the match, Josiah McCloud (Monclova Christian/Toledo, Ohio) blew past a defender and was fouled in the box. Almester then converted his third penalty kick of the season to give Owens an early lead.

Just over three minutes later, Almester scored again on a through ball from Jahmall Whittaker (Herbert Morrison Tech/Queens, N.Y.) to make it 2-0, which would be a lead that would hold until halftime.

In the second half, Owens peppered Lakeland with four goals. The first came from Reiss Liggitt (Seminole/Birmingham, England) at the 49:53 mark, followed by Almester's third goal at the 57:28 mark.

Joa'o Vitor Batista (Crescer Podium/Divinopolis, Brazil) and Ian Richey (Kalida/Kalida, Ohio) capped the scoring with goals in the 68th and 72nd minutes.

Almester, Liggitt, Craig Hylton (Atlantic Technical/Worcester, Mass.) and Joseph Swager (Continental/Continental, Ohio) assisted on the four second half goals.

Kyle Rowan (Perrysburg/Perrysburg, Ohio) played the first 55 minutes in goal for Owens. He made one save to pick up the win before Alexander Renius (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) went the final 35 minutes. He also made one save.

Notes

Almester has recorded a hat trick in each game against Lakeland this year. He now has 15 goals and four assists this year to bump his career totals to 33 goals and eight assists. Furthermore, he finishes the season with eight goals and three assists in conference play.

Liggitt, who had one goal and one assist today, now has 10 goals and 10 assists in his career. Six of his goals have come as a sophomore.

Vitor Batista scored his second goal of the season, with both coming against Lakeland. Richey's goal was his first of the season and second of his career.

Hylton and Swager each picked up their first career assists.