FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Rookie Pat Noonan scored three goals as the New England Revolution clinched second place in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Division with a 5-2 victory over the New York-New Jersey MetroStars Saturday.

The Revolution, which went 3-0-1 against the MetroStars this season, took a 2-0 halftime lead on goals by Noonan in the 41st minute and Fabbro in the 45th minute.

The MetroStars, which have won just one of their last six matches, cut their deficit to 3-1 on a penalty kick by Mark Lisi in the 62nd minute.

New York-New Jersey scored again in the 69th minute when Jason LeBlanc tucked a low shot to the left corner past New England goalkeeper Adin Brown.

Noonan scored in the 51st minute, and capped his hat trick with a goal in the 68th minute, his 10th of the season, after Brian Kamler set up the play with a steal and long run.

New England’s Steve Ralston, who assisted on the Revolution’s first two goals, scored at the 65-minute mark to give his team a 4-1 lead.

New England closed the regular season at 12-9-9 while the MetroStars finished at 11-10-9.

The teams will meet again Nov. 1 in the first round of a two-match total-goals playoff series.

AP-ES-10-25-03 1900EDT