BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Brooklyn Italians moved closer to clinching a National Premier Soccer League playoff spot by recording a 3-0 victory over the New York Athletic Club at LIU Athletic Complex Wednesday night.

The Italians (5-2-1, 16 points) moved into second place in the North Atlantic Conference just ahead of Hartford City FC (5-2-1, 16) on better goal differential (plus 10 to plus six). NYAC (3-3-2, 11) is still in the running for a postseason place.

Clement Bourret connected for a hat-trick during a 25-minute span on either side of the interval, scoring in the 40th, 48th and 65th minutes.

Brooklyn can qualify for the playoffs — four teams make it from the conference — with a road win over Greater Lowell NPSL FC Saturday night.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.