BELMONT – Home-standing Belmont Abbey scored a trio of first half goals to take a sizeable lead into the intermission, and then added a final score in the second stanza on the way to a 4-0 win over the UNC Pembroke men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Crusaders (1-1-1) posted a 21-5 shot disparity and climbed to the .500 mark for the first time this season with the offensive output. It was the second away-from-home loss for the Braves (1-2-0) who dropped a neutral site contest (Columbus, Ga.) to Lincoln Memorial in their season opener last weekend.

Josh Hanratty registered a team-best two shots for the Black & Gold, who mustered just one shot on target in the contest. Two days removed from turning in his first collegiate clean sheet, Lucas Gusmao saddled the loss for UNCP this time around, despite canning four saves.

Luke Wood tallied a hat trick (three goals) to pace the Crusaders, with Sean Trompeter logging the game's first goal. Four other players grabbed assists for Belmont Abbey as well.

Trompeter got the hosts off the mark with a quality strike in the 22nd minute (21:33), but Wood netted his first goal nearly seven minutes later (28:09), and then padded the lead out to 3-0 with a goal in the 39th minute (38:19). Wood completed his trick with a penalty kick goal in the 89th minute (88:52).

The Braves will open up a two-game home stand on Wednesday when they suit up to battle Barton (2-2-0) in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Varsity Grounds.