Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne Men?s Soccer Team (9-7, 4-4) celebrated Senior Night with a 5-0 win over South Atlantic Conference-rival Catawba? (9-7-1, 2-6) Thursday?night at the Moretz Sports ? Athletic Complex.? Junior forward Nicky Matthews (Bradford, ENGLAND) tallied a hat trick (three goals) to help L-R snap a two-match losing streak.

Matthews scored just 4:13 into the match when he finished off a deflected free kick before extending the lead to 2-0 in the 21st minute.? Matthews took a pass down the left side from senior defender Martin Graham (Cumbria, ENGLAND) and drove a left-footed blast into upper near corner for the score.?

Lenoir-Rhyne put the contest away just 52 seconds later when freshman forward Chibuzo Nwosu (Macon, Ga.) slipped through the back line and past the Catawba defenders for another goal.? Junior midfielder Jordan Holmes (Southport, ENGLAND) was credited with the assist.

Matthews finished off Holmes? blocked shot in the 57th minute before freshman defender Adam Douglas (Singapore, SINGAPORE) rounded out the scoring with a goal from about 12 yards out at the 78:20 mark of the second half.

Matthews and Nwosu are now tied for the team lead in goals with nine while senior goalkeeper Tom Heath (Solihull, ENGLAND) was credited with the win after stopping five shots in just over 86 minutes of action.

Catawba?s Luke McCarthy (Naples, Fla.) suffered the loss in goal despite tallying 10 saves.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which held a 29-11 advantage in shots taken, honored its four seniors prior to the match:? Heath, Graham, senior defender Kyle Winterbottom (Rochdale, ENGLAND) and senior forward Dave Bailey (Bath, ENGLAND).

Both teams close out the regular season on Saturday in South Atlantic Conference matches.? Lenoir-Rhyne plays Tusculum in Greeneville, Tenn., beginning at 8 p.m., while Catawba hosts Brevard at 7 p.m.