New England Soccer Today

PDL: Alencar’s Hat Trick Puts Pioneers in 1st Place

Newly-acquired striker Alencar Junior collected his second hat trick in three games to lead the Western Mass Pioneers (5-1-2, 17 points)  to a 4-0 thumping of Seacoast United Phantoms (0-4-4, 4 points) on Friday at Lusitano Stadium.

Junior, who also bagged a three-goal effort against Real Boston on Jun. 19, added three more in the 5th, 12th and 43rd minutes, while teammate Drou Goff capped the scoring in the 80th minute.

Warren Gross denied four Phantom shots and collected his third clean sheet in the process.

In his last three games, Junior, the reigning PDL Player of the Week, has tallied eight goals, two shy of the division-high 10 he scored for the Hydra last season.

The Western Mass win gives them a share of first place with Ottawa and Portland, with all three having 17 points in eight games. Seacoast’s defeat keeps them mired in the Northeast Division basement, and winless in their first eight.

The Pioneers won’t have much time to celebrate their four-goal performance, as they head to the Nutmeg State on Saturday for a 7pm game against CFC Azul at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

The Phantoms return to action on Sunday at 7pm when they face Real Boston Rams at Muscato Stadium in Easton, Mass.

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