The Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Soccer Team snapped their winless streak at five games on Wednesday thanks to a 4-1 victory over Emory & Henry.

It was the best offensive performance of the season for the Bears thanks to their four goals scored by four unique players.

LR got off to a blistering start in the opening ten minutes when Ivan Rubio buried the opener in the seventh minute. From one graduate student to the next, Adrian Martina scored his team-leading fifth goal in the ninth minute, which will be marked as his second game-winning goal of the year.

After going into the break with a 2-1 advantage, the Bears were able to put the match away with another pair of goals in the second half.

Arnau Olle recorded his first goal of the year at the hour mark to restore the Bears’ two-goal lead while Raul Canas put the finishing touch in the match at the 72nd minute.

In addition to its being the first time that LR has scored more than two goals in a match; it also marks the first time this season that the Bears were victorious on the road.

After the shot battle was even at eight apiece in the first half, LR dominated in the second half by outshooting the Wasps, 12-1.
LR was accurate in its shot-taking ability with nine shots on goal. That is the most shots on goal registered for the Bears in a match in 2023.

Martina matched his single-game most with eight total shots. The Avila, Spain native had eight shots against Anderson on Sept. 20. With only one yellow card, it is the cleanest match the Bears had this season, tying their one yellow card performance against Francis Marion on Sept. 27.

The Bears had 19 players appear on the pitch against Emory & Henry; the most appearances in a single match for the Bears this season.

Lenoir-Rhyne leads the all-time series, 2-0-0. This match marked the first meeting between the Bears and the Wasps in Emory, Va. In addition to last season’s 2-0 victory, the Bears have outscored the Wasps, 6-1, in their all-time meetings.

Thanks to Martina’s fifth goal of the season, the Bears forward has recorded back-to-back seasons with double-digit points. Martina had 16 in 2022 and currently has 11 in 2023.

This marks the first time the Bears have scored four goals in a match since their 4-1 victory over Catawba in the SAC Quarterfinals on Oct. 29, 2022.

The Bears are 2-4-3 overall, 2-2-2 in the South Atlantic Conference.  The Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Soccer Team will conclude their four-match road trip with a meeting against Carson-Newman on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. The Bears will seek to continue their four-match unbeaten streak against the Eagles that dates back to Sept. 12, 2018.