The Jefferson J-Hawks opened Thursday night’s doubleheader at Swanson Stadium with an impressive 4–1 victory over East in NIC-10 soccer action.
East grabbed the early momentum, striking first at the 35:28 mark of the first half. But the J-Hawks responded with poise. Junior Eduardo Mendoza (#3) evened the score midway through the half, slicing through defenders and burying a well-placed finish at 21:43. Moments later, senior Anthony Marquez (#8) delivered a perfectly placed free kick that found sophomore Lucio Lopez (#21) for a header that bounced in at 16:26, giving Jefferson a 2–1 lead at halftime.
The second half brought tense moments, including an East free kick off the crossbar, but the J-Hawks defense held strong. With just over five minutes to play, senior Osbaldo Nunez (#4) delivered the dagger, scoring twice in quick succession. His first came off a deflection from a midfield free kick at 5:31, and he followed it up minutes later by capitalizing on a misplayed ball by the East keeper, sliding his second goal into the corner to seal the 4–1 victory.
Jefferson showcased balance across the attack, with three different goal scorers and steady defensive play to secure the win. The victory set the tone for the night, with J-Hawk football following in the second leg of the Swanson Stadium doubleheader.
Final Score: Jefferson 4, East 1
Goals: Mendoza, Lopez, Nunez (2)