Behind Wade Cotton’s second half hat trick, with all of Cotton’s markers coming within the span of seven minutes, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s boys’ soccer team broke out of their four-game losing streak Tuesday afternoon at home, beating BEACH 5-2.

First half goals from Shea Ahlsted (who along with Scott Mussatti scored in Monday’s 3-2 loss to Hampton Roads Academy) and Steven Turner, in the 12th and 18th minutes respectively, put the Saints up 2-0 at the half.

The Breakers struck two minutes into the second half to cut the margin in half, but beginning in the 50th minute, Cotton’s one man show took over.

Off an assist from Ahlsted, Cotton struck a full volley from the top of the 18, burying the well-taken shot past the BEACH keeper to restore NSA’s two-goal cushion.

The goals kept coming in the 52nd and 57th minute for Cotton, as the Saints put the match out of reach. The Breakers scored their second goal six minutes from the end.

Chris Fisher made 10 saves in the Saints’ net. Ben Trujillo, Matt Davies and Reid Leonard all tallied assists.

&uot;We played a great game,&uot; said Cotton. &uot;Defensively we stuck to them, our passing was better then it had been and we finished our chances.&uot;

The Saints (2-5) travel to Bishop Sullivan Catholic on Thursday afternoon for a 4:30 start.

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com