BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In the weekend's most anticipated GSAC / EPAC matchup, the Northampton men's soccer team dropped their first game of the season, falling 3-1, to Ocean County College on Saturday afternoon. 

In a very evenly played game, the Vikings got on the board first, as Jeff Arevalo scored 21 minutes into the game on a thru ball down the left side, beating Northampton goalkeeper Kenan Meral (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty ).  Northampton tied the game 7 minutes later as Cesar Hernandez (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) found the back of the net to make it 1-1.  Arevalo struck again for Ocean, converting a penalty kick with 7 minutes remaining in the half. Andrew Jozwicki scored an insurance goal for Ocean with 30 minutes left in the game to secure the win.

Northampton outshot Ocean, 13-11, with Nick Hudd of Ocean making 7 saves, while Meral had 4 saves for the Spartans. 

"I thought we played well," commented Head Coach Brennan McCarthy, "Ocean is a very solid, well-coached, team and took advantage of their opportunities ... I thought we left a couple chances out there and you need to convert against teams of this caliber."

The loss drops Northampton to 5-1-0 overall, while Ocean improves to 3-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in Region XIX. 

The Spartans will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Harrisburg Area Community College for a 3:30pm matchup.