Shreveport, La. - The Centenary men's soccer team cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Hendrix Warriors on Tuesday evening in a non-conference match at Mayo Field.
The Gents (2-2) took control of the match with four-first half goals and scored the most goals in a game since the Maroon and White notched a whopping 17 in a shutout win over Wiley back in 2002. The most goals in a single game the Gents had scored recently was five in a match versus East Texas Baptist in 2014.
Junior Shim Eliya (Fort Worth, Texas) opened the scoring with an unassisted goal just two and a half minutes into play for an early 1-0 lead. Five minutes later sophomore Wil Escobar (Cypress, Texas) scored off an assist from freshman teammate Nick Garcia (Carrolton, Texas).
Senior forward Scott Halper (Franklin lakes, N.J.) found the net in the 33rd minute to make it 3-0 off an assist from Cole Schultz (Denham Springs, La.). Halper struck again just minutes before halftime for an unassisted goal as the Gents took a comnfortable 4-0 lead into the intermission.
Centenary's offense did not stop in the second half, scoring three goals, led by freshman Nick Garcia's pair of goals. The midfielder from Carrollton, Texas scored in the 54th and 62nd minutes of the second half for his second and third goals of the young season. Junior forward Matthew Young capped the offensive outburst by the Gents with a late goal at the 78:35 mark to make it 7-0.
The Gents held a decisive advantage in shots (25-5) as the offense kept Hendrix's two goalkeepers (Josh Neuman and Arron Sahlmann) on their toes all evening. Neuman started and allowed five goals and was replaced by Sahlmann with just over 30 minutes left in the match and he allowed two more goals.
The Gents continue their five-game homestand (longest of the season) on Friday as Centenary opens Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play versus Austin College in a match set for 7 p.m.
The new playing surface at Mayo Field, installed prior to the 2019 soccer season, will be officially dedicated on Friday prior to the doubleheader against The 'Roos.
The celebration begins at 4:30 p.m. with a welcome and remarks by Centenary president Dr. Chris Holoman followed by the playing of the national anthem at approximately 4:50 p.m.
A pregame tailgate party, sponsored by SGA, will begin at 5 p.m. and at that same time the Ladies face the 'Roos before the Gents follow at 7 p.m. "Up with People" will perform at halftime of the men's match.
Admission is FREE to all home Centenary athletic contests. #CTheOpportunity
