Men’s Soccer Wins Season Opener, 6-0<br><i>Watch Munn postgame interview</i>
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Lions' men's soccer team won their season opener by a 6-0 margin against the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College. It was the Lions' tenth straight win at home in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium.
The Lions wasted little time getting on the board. Stephen Bivens scored on a header from Felipe Ferraro just 51 seconds into the match to give MHC a 1-0 lead. Giovanni Malnati increased the Lions' advantage to 2-0 at the 12:34 mark. Malnati found the back of the net from 20 yards on a pass from Troy Chavez. Ferraro then scored on a cross from Isaiah Schafer to extend the Lions lead to 3-0 in the 17th minute.
Rury Caulfield ended the scoring for the first half at the 37:11 mark on a pass from Brandon Tardioli. MHC outshot the Crusaders 13-4 in the opening period. Eight off those shots were on goal. MHC also had seven corner kicks in the first half.
Nathaniel Enos scored the fifth goal for the Lions at the 56:09 mark from 20 yards out. The goal was unassisted. The final score of the match was a own goal by Belmont Abbey to make the final tally, 6-0 in favor of the Lions.
MHC outshot the Crusaders, 19-10. The Lions had 13 corner kicks as opposed to BAC who had only one in the match. Zac Scott played 74:39 in goal for MHC and made three saves. Phillip Dabney played the final 15:21 in goal for the Lions and made a pair of saves. Louis Liberatore played the first half in goal for BAC and made four saves. Jordan Junot played the first 16:01 in the second frame with one save and Sergio Ramirez played the final 28:59.
Mars Hill play at Erskine College on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
