BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat men's soccer team utilized a team effort on Senior Night to take a home contest against the Johnson University-Tennessee Royals by a score of 7-1 Saturday night. With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 8-7 (7-5 AAC) on the season.
 
Senior Isaac Wilkening got on the scoresheet with a helper just minutes into his Senior Night contest. In the eighth minute, the Fredericksburg, Va. native nodded a ball into the path of Carlos Hernandez at the top of the penalty area. Taking a touch to settle the pass, Hernandez then fired a shot across his body and into the far-side netting to give the Cavs a 1-0 advantage.
 
Wilkening then doubled Montreat's lead in the 22^nd minute, with a tally of his own. After receiving a perfectly-weighted pass from Ricardo Araujo that sent him through on goal, Wilkening blasted the ball to the far post for his second goal of the year.
 
Less than five minutes later, Araujo scored with a beautiful individual effort. The Lisbon, Portugal native picked off a pass from the Johnson defense and made a run around three additional defenders. Fading to his left, Araujo slotted a shot around the Royals' keeper to give the Cavaliers their third goal of the evening.
 
In the final three minutes of the opening period, John Adams benefited from connection through the midfield. Ethan Kerns and Hernandez traded passes that resulted in a through ball to a streaking Adams toward the right side of the penalty area. Adams powered his attempt in the near side of the net to extend the Cavs' advantage to four at the half.
 
Montreat continued to press with hungry players in the second period, adding two goals 10 minutes apart. In the 54^th, Hernandez received a pass from Rodrigo Jimenez at the top of the box and impressively curled a left-footed effort around the JU goalie and into the right-side netting. Alfredo Rodriguez was sprung through the Johnson back line when he sprinted on to a ball from Hernandez. The Efland, N.C. native opened his hips and sent the Cavaliers' sixth tally of the night near to where Hernandez's ball landed earlier.
 
Though the Royals hammered home a penalty kick in the 85^th minute to spoil Jesus Ramos' clean sheet, Montreat secured the six-goal triumph through Wilkening again. Kerns recorded his second helper of the evening by dribbling square to the top of the box from the left wing. Wilkening made his run from right to left, and Kerns chipped a ball across his body onto Wilkening's foot, which the senior blasted through the keeper for the Cavs' seventh.
 
"It was good to get a victory to celebrate our seniors tonight," began head coach Michael Bruce. He continued, "All seven of them have contributed greatly to our program and I am glad we could honor them tonight. We are now looking forward to our final home game on Wednesday."
 
Overall, the Cavaliers dominated possession and shots, outshooting the visitors 41-8, while earning 13 corner kicks to Johnson's mere two. Ramos ended his night by saving two opposing shots in the win.
 
Men's soccer is back on the pitch on Wednesday night against Reinhardt University. Kickoff in Black Mountain, N.C. is slated for 6:00 p.m.