A Record‑Breaking Opening Night
Lenoir‑Rhyne’s men’s soccer team opened its season with a dramatic 6‑5 loss to No. 2 Rollins, a result that set a new program high for combined goals in a season opener. The Bears led 3‑2 at halftime before Rollins surged ahead 5‑3, only to see the visitors rally back to level the match at 5‑5 in the second half.
The game’s narrative shifted quickly after the break, as two swift goals from Rollins extended the lead to 4‑3 before the interval. A flurry of strikes followed, with Xairo Villalon and Hector Taboada each finding the net to force a 5‑5 deadlock. In the 76th minute, Sebastian Alvarez struck the decisive blow, securing the win for Rollins and capping a night of relentless attacking.
Oskar Dahlberg’s first career brace added a personal highlight to the Bears’ effort, while Angelo Paparoupas opened the scoring in the 17th minute. The match also marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools, underscoring the significance of the encounter for both programs.
Looking ahead, Lenoir‑Rhyne will travel to face No. 22 Florida Tech in its next contest, hoping to translate the lessons from this high‑scoring affair into a positive result on the road.