BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat men's soccer team displayed an offensive eruption at home on Wednesday night, dominating the match from beginning to end to the tune of a 10-2 victory over the Columbia College Koalas.
 
Montreat's 10-goal showing was its most in match since Sept. 10, 2016, a 12-0 win over Hiwassee College. Coupled with its seven-goal performance last Saturday at Bryan College, the Cavaliers have scored 17 goals over the past two matches.
 
The night's offensive explosion started in the eighth minute when William Stallworth made a run down the right flank. With his pace, he was able to get around the initial defender and play a cross into the box. Hugo Rodriguez made a run, but let the ball roll through to the far post where Rodrigo Jimenez was waiting. Jimenez's right-footed shot from six yards out had enough pace to get through the traffic in front of net and establish a 1-0 Cavaliers lead.
 
In the 21^st minute, Hussein Ali found his way onto the scoresheet. Carlos Rodriguez linked up with Rodriguez in the attacking third, who then flicked a ball into the box. That's when Ali came sliding in front of a Columbia defender to poke the pass home and put the Cavs up 2-0.
 
Rodriguez burst onto the scoresheet in the 26^th minute with a spectacular finish. Hernandez played the ball to Oliver Nuno-Rodriguez, who played a beautiful through ball on the left-side of the box to Rodriguez. Squaring his hips, Rodriguez opened his right foot and guided a one-timer upper 90 into the right corner of the net.
 
Just 55 seconds later, the Cavaliers added a fourth tally on an own goal off a Hernandez cross into the six-yard box. Montreat entered the break with a 4-0 advantage.
 
The second half started off much like the first, but with a few more fireworks. Montreat scored three goals in the 57^th minute, this time with Hernandez getting in on the fun. Ali played a cross to the top of the box and Hernandez proved clinical with the finish. Thirty-two seconds later, Hernandez set up Rodriguez for his second goal, a header that floated over Samuel Bush's out-stretched arm and into the net. Lastly, after 18 more seconds elapsed, Hernandez played a through ball to Jimenez, who then sent a cross into the box that Ali finished at the near post.
 
Despite the 7-0 Cavaliers advantage, Columbia wasn't deterred in its effort. In the 61^st minute, they were rewarded. Off a corner kick, Stallworth committed a foul in the box, drawing a Columbia penalty kick. Oby Vega slotted the penalty kick beyond Jesus Ramos' reach for the Koalas first goal. Twelve minutes later, Breon Riley took advantage of a bouncing ball at the top of the box, looping it around Ramos for Columbia's second tally.
 
In the 80^th minute, Ricardo Araujo scored via the penalty spot for his second goal of the season.
 
Three minutes later, Alfredo Rodriguez utilized his first playing time of the season in style. Running down the left flank, Rodriguez took an Araujo pass and sent a missile into the net. Rodriguez's upper 90 rocket from outside the box put the Cavaliers up 9-2.
 
The match saw its final goal in the 83^rd minute when Isaac Wilkening hopped onto the scoresheet. His left-footed strike proved to be the exclamation point on the match as the Cavaliers claimed the 10-2 victory.
 
"It was great to see our offense click tonight," said head coach Michael Bruce. "We have been very impressive going forward in the last two games, and I hope it continues for the rest of the season. We have some work to do defensively, and we will be working hard to fix our problems before our game against Milligan on Saturday."
 
With the win, Montreat improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Columbia dropped to 2-2 and 1-1 in the AAC.
 
Up next for the Montreat men's soccer team is a Saturday clash against Milligan University. The match is slated for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff in Black Mountain, N.C.