Dominick Falanga scored three goals in a span of 5:57 early in the second-half, powering the host Terriers to a 3-1 Northeast Conference victory against Robert Morris on Friday evening at Brooklyn Bridge Park.  The Red & Blue improved to 8-4-1 (2-0-1 NEC) while the Colonials dropped to 2-9-3 (1-2-1 NEC).

The victory also provided 11^th-year head coach Tom Giovatto with his 100^th career win, all coming on the Terrier sideline.  Giovatto upped his overall record at St. Francis Brooklyn to 100-67-30.  The Terriers have now gone 8-0-1 over the last two seasons in NEC play and have won three league championships over the past four seasons.

The visitors got on the board first as midfielder Keane McIvor beat Terrier keeper Roberto Bazzichetto (4 saves) in the 18^th minute.  Bayley Winkel and Corey McCurdy were both awarded assists.  Mcivor tapped the ball into the lower right-corner past a charging Bazzichetto for the Colonials' lone tally.

The hosts, who outshot Robert Morris by an 8-2 count in the opening half, got new life in the 54^th minute as Falanga began his scoring onslaught. 

Senior midfielder Federico Curbelo initiated the opening tally as he found Falanga all alone at the top of the box.  Falanga then sent a hard shot just inside the far post.

Falanga struck again in the 58^th minute after receiving a gorgeous long ball from freshman Chris Gruver that was launched from well past the midfield line.  Falanga advanced the ball a few yards towards the goal by heading Gruver's long-arching pass to himself.  He then managed to beat Colonials' keeper Winter Fondi with a point-blank shot to the lower right-corner.

Falanga completed his amazing hat trick in the 60^th minute as he took another feed from Curbelo, and bent in a winner from 20-yards out towards the upper-right corner of the net.

"I'm proud of the team because we stayed as a unit and kept our composure after we were down at the half," said Falanga, who admitted that the hat trick was his first at any level.  "I'm confident in the group of guys that we have and we'll continue to get better with each game."

St. Francis Brooklyn outshot the Colonials by a 14-7 margin.

 

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