Brookdale Suffers Loss To Mercer Despite Denovaes Hat Trick

Tinton Falls, NJ - Brookdale men's soccer suffered a tough 6-3 loss to the Mercer CCC Vikings despite their strong efforts and the freshman midfielder, Brandon Denovaes, hat trick. 

Denovaes exploded for three goals in the first half, assisted by sophomore, Dane Calhoun, who placed a perfectly weighted pass onto the foot of a breaking Denovaes. He collected the ball and slammed it low past the Viking keeper. Minutes later, Denovaes was one on one and taken down inside the penalty area. He took the penalty kick which sent the netminder in the wrong direction.

Mercer picked up a goal of their own however, Brandon Denovaes, was at it again. He collected a loose bouncing ball on the left sideline, proceeded past two Viking defenders and buried a rocket of a shot for the "natural" hat trick. Brookdale was in the lead 3-1 at the half.

The second half took a turn for the worst. The Vikings stepped up the pace of play and the Blues could not settle into their rhythm of the first half. Final score, Mercer 6, Brookdale, 3. 

The Blues (0-6) travel to the Union County Owls nest on Friday, May 7th, for a 3:30pm start.

Photo above courtesy of Tom Smith