Hickory, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne men's soccer team picked up three key points on Wednesday night, taking down a short sided Mars Hill squad 3-0 in Hickory.
All three of the Bears' goals were scored in the second half, two of which came off the foot of
Xairo Villalon.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Mars Hill 0
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (4-4-2, 3-2-2 SAC), Mars Hill (3-3-6, 1-2-4 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. I Moretz Sports Athletic Complex
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- The Bears controlled the game from the jump, putting up three shots in the first 15 minutes.
- Mars Hill's Frederik Dyrup Jensen picked up a red card in the 18th minute, making the Bears a man up the rest of the game.
- Despite not scoring in the first half the Bears had their chances, out shooting the Lions 6-0 in the frame.
- Xairo Villalon put Lenoir-Rhyne up 1-0 in the 60th minute when he scored his first goal of the season off the cross from Raul Canas.
- Fran Tita join Villalon on the scoresheet, notching his first goal of the season in the 76th minute.
- Villalon wasn't done, as just two minutes after Tita's goal he beat three defenders and put it in the side netting for the brace.
- The Bears out shot the Lions 15-1 and didn't allow a shot on goal all day.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- This was Lenoir-Rhyne's first win against Mars Hill since 2021 and they now lead the series 21-20-4.
- The Bears have won three straight and haven't allowed a goal since October 4th vs. Newberry.
- Voro Rivera Peris and Tomas Fontes won the SAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards on Tuesday.
- Lenoir-Rhyne is now third in the SAC with 11 points, just behind Emory & Henry (13) and Anderson (14).
UP NEXT: The Bears will head to Jefferson City, Tennessee, to face Carson-Newman on Saturday at 5:00 PM. Carson-Newman is 1-6-3 on the season and has three points in the SAC after their 1-1 tie against Mars Hill last Friday.
