LEXINGTON, Ky. — It was another historic night for Lexington Sporting Club Saturday night as the Greens eviscerated Orange County SC with a 6-0 win. Phillip Goodrum scored his second consecutive hat trick, becoming just the second player in league history to accomplish the feat, as the Greens bagged four goals in the first half alone.
Goodrum’s first of the evening, fittingly, came in the 9’ minute of play when a three-on-two breakaway led to Nick Firmino finding Lexington’s No. 9 wide open at the back post for an easy finish.
His second came in the 24’ minute by way of a header on a Blaine Ferri corner kick. Goodrum then completed the hat trick four minutes into the second half when a perfectly weighted cross from Marcus Epps connected with the striker in front of goal.
Not only did Goodrum’s back-to-back hat trick feat mark the second in USL Championship history, but his six goals in two matches are the most by any Lexington player. He increased his tally to 10 on the season, becoming the first LSC man to reach double digits since joining the USL-C.
Marcus Epps paired his assist with a goal of his own in the 15’ minute, a masterclass that is sure to be a goal of the week contender. With the ball and his back to goal, he whipped around and fired from outside the box without needing to look at goal. The rocket tucked neatly inside the back post on the same night Epps was honored pre-match for becoming the 24th player in league history to reach 250 career regular season USL Championship appearances.
After notching two assists early, Nick Firmino also bagged a first-half goal to give him three total goal contributions on the evening. Malcolm Fry collected his first USL Championship assist on the play.
Right before the final whistle blew, Cielo Tschantret scored his first USL Championship goal after following up a Goodrum shot that pinged off the post.
Lexington’s four-goal explosion in the first half marked the second time in club history the Greens bagged four in a 45-minute period.
The 6-0 result, the most goals scored by the club in the Championship era, catapulted Lexington into possession of a home playoff match with five contests remaining.
GOALS
9’ LEX: Phillip Goodrum (assist: Nick Firmino)
15’ LEX: Marcus Epps (assist: Nick Firmino)
24’ LEX: Phillip Goodrum (assist: Blaine Ferri)
35’ LEX: Nick Firmino (assist: Malcolm Fry)
49’ LEX: Phillip Goodrum (assist: Marcus Epps)
85’ LEX: Cielo Tschantret
LINEUPS
LEX: Oliver Semmle, Jacob Greene (66’ Marqes Muir), Javain Brown, Kendall Burks, Xavier Zengue, Blaine Ferri, Noble Okello (66’ Cielo Tschantret), Nick Firmino (55’ Braudílio Rodrigues), Marcus Epps (72’ Milo Yosef), Malcolm Fry (55’ Tarik Scott), Phillip Goodrum
OC: Alex Rando, Ryan Doghman, Tyson Espy, Tom Brewitt, Jaylin Lindsey, Christopher Hegardt, Stephen Kelly (45’ Paul Ngoie), Ousmane Sylla (64’ Marcelo Palomino), Efren Solis, Sydney Wathuta (83’ Mouhamadou War), Mataeo Bunbury (38’ Jerome Carter)
UP NEXT
It is another long trip out west up next when Lexington SC takes on Monterey Bay FC, a club it has already beaten twice this season in USL Championship play. The match, which will stream on the FOX 56 app, kicks off at 10 p.m. ET.
