The Montreat College men's soccer team kicked off its 2010 regular season Tuesday night against Emmanuel College in a match played at Owen High School in Black Mountain.  With nine seniors gone from the 2009 squad, including well-known names like Shaka Bangura, Howard Fisher, and Stephen Jackson, the men's team had a lot to prove.  And they did just that, earning a solid 2-0 victory against the Lions to mark a new era in Montreat soccer.

Benware also pointed to a growing camaraderie among new teammates - a necessary attribute since the players hail from nine different countries.

Montreat controlled the game well in the first half, claiming most of the possession, with an international cast dominating midfield.   Brandon Rodeman, a senior from Florida, sophomore Javier Cuellar from El Salvador, and Freshman Maximiliano Viera of Montevideo, Uruguay commanded the center of the pitch and created chances for the Cavalier forwards.  Emmanuel College managed a few opportunities off the counter-attack as well as on a few corner kicks, but Montreat's defense held strong, anchored by junior Michael Bruce, a goalkeeper from Scotland by way of Shorter College.

Scoring opened up in the first half when Cuellar put a free kick from 30 yards out into the left side of the net.  The half would end 1-0.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Leonard Walker of Kingston, Jamaica tallied his first goal of the season with assists from Paul Connell and Viera.  Viera found Walker alone on the right side, and the senior midfielder sent a rocket to the upper right corner of net, leaving the Lions goalkeeper with no chance.

Chances came more frequently as fatigue set in for both teams, but Montreat defended doggedly to earn the shutout.

In their next match, Montreat travels to Nashville, Tennessee to take on Trevecca Nazarene University in the Trojans' first match of the season.  Kickoff is at 3 p.m.