TOCCOA FALLS, Ga. — The Montreat College men's soccer team kicked off its 2026 regular season slate on Saturday afternoon with a nonconference road match against the University of Toccoa Falls Screaming Eagles. Scoring early and often, the Cavaliers erupted for five goals across the 90-minute contest, seizing a 5-1 triumph in the process. With the victory, the Cavs began the year at 1-0-0.
It didn't take long for the visiting side to put significant pressure on their opposition.
Emmanuel Ntimeh took a
Gabriel Caskett pass and deposited a shot into the Screaming Eagles' net for the squad's initial tally of the campaign. That strike occurred in the 8
th minute. With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, Ntimeh, along with
Viktor Mladenov, set up
Alejandro Hernandez for an expertly-placed shot attempt. Hernandez's initial goal of the day doubled the Cavaliers' lead out to 2-0 prior to the intermission.
Montreat double-dipped on the scoresheet by striking headed into and out of the halftime break. Just over three minutes into the second period,
Erikas Kvedaravicius launched a ball from the back row towards a sprinting
Ethan Grasso. The senior deftly got a touch to the pass, sneaking a shot underneath the goalkeeper and past the two defenders surrounding him. Grasso's eighth career goal increased the visiting side's edge to 3-0.
Ntimeh picked up his second assist of the afternoon by dumping off a pass to
Jared McCall in the 54
th minute. The Pleasant Garden, N.C. native immediately knew what to do with the feed, curling a shot into the left side of the net for the Cavs' fourth goal of the contest.
Toccoa Falls, who played Saturday's match as an exhibition, eliminated its goose egg on the scoreboard with a 61
st minute tally; however, that proved to be all the Screaming Eagles could muster against
Adrian Torres, who made four saves in net to aid his team in securing the win. Hernandez tacked on one final strike just before the horn sounded, and the Cavaliers left Georgia with an explosive 5-1 triumph.
"I'm really happy with an opening day win," said Head Coach
Michael Bruce. "We showed good offensive play throughout the game, and we are excited to continue the season on a positive note on Tuesday."
Overall, Montreat maintained the advantage in total shots (25-10), shots on goal (9-5) and corner kicks (8-5). The Cavs were whistled for twice as many fouls as the opposition (10-5) and picked up the day's lone yellow card. Defensively, each squad registered four saves.
Both Hernandez and Ntimeh attempted five shots on Saturday, while the former placed three on target and the latter directed two on frame. Hernandez scored twice to power the offense, and Ntimeh contributed a goal and two assists. Caskett and Kvedaravicius also distributed helpers in the effort, while Grasso and McCall each found the back of the net once.
The Montreat College men's soccer team opens its home slate on Tuesday, Sept. 1 with a nonconference matchup versus Johnson & Wales University Charlotte. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C.
