By Patrick Gordon/Lakeland Community College

Kirtland, OH---Already ranked 11th in active coaching wins nationwide, Head Coach Djuro Peric picked up his 250th career win on Wednesday afternoon against the University of Mount Union JV.  Peric, who has led the Lakeland men's soccer team since 1988, becomes just the 27th coach in the 75-year history of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to win 250 games.  

Michael Maiorano (Whitby, Ontario) continued his torrid scoring streak with a hat trick on Wednesday to help the Lakers improve to 6-8 overall.  Jon-Michael Vieira (Whitby, Ontario) added a goal and two assists in the victory as Lakeland prepares for a pair of pivotal Region XII matches at this weekend's Tri-C Tournament.

Vieira and Maiorano connected on the game's first goal – a 16th minute tally by Maiorano – to give the hosts an early advantage.  Freshman Ma'Cain Spragling (Brush HS) quickly doubled the lead less than four minutes later thanks to a Scott Scaperato (Lake Catholic HS) assist.

Mount Union scored in the 31st minute to cut the lead in half, but Vieira converted a penalty kick six minutes later to make it 3-1.

The Lakers would add two more in the final two minutes of the half to take a 5-1 lead into the break.  Spragling tucked a nifty shot inside the far post in the 44th minute before Maiorano converted for his second of the day just 12 seconds before time.

Maiorano would record the second half's only goal after taking a feed from Augusto Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) in the 88th minute.

Sophomore Abdel Rodriguez (Las Vegas, Nev.) earned the win in net, making one save in 45 minutes of action.  The Lakers will take on Schoolcraft (Oct. 6) and Jackson (Oct. 7) this weekend in Parma, Ohio.

Peric has been associated with Lakeland soccer for the past 41 years, beginning his career as a two-year player in 1972 before serving as an assistant coach under Mario Marcopoli.  He became just the second coach in program history when he took over head coaching responsibilities in 1988 and has held the post ever since, winning six Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championships during that span.

During his tenure, he has coached eight NJCAA All-Americans, 17 NJCAA Academic All-Americans, and four NSCAA All-Americans in addition to countless all-conference and all-region selections.