PEMBROKE – Newcomer Martin Tomter came off the bench to register a hat trick, Andrew Brown cashed in on a pair of goals and three other Braves recorded two assists apiece to help UNCP record its most lopsided victory in 24 years with a 9-0 rout of visiting Chowan on Wednesday evening at Varsity Grounds.
The scoring output marked the most goals for the Braves (5-8-3) since joining the NCAA Division II ranks prior to the 1992 season, while also marking its biggest victory since ousting Mount Olive, 10-0, during the 1986 season. The result helped UNCP stay perfect in its series with Chowan (3-14-0) who has now been outscored 21-0 in its four matchups with the Black and Gold.
Six different Braves netted goals on the night, including freshman Casey Francis who registered his first collegiate goal to cap the night's scoring in the 90th minute. Defender Michael Davis tallied his first goal since his freshman season in 2008, while freshmen Alex Antonescu and Ricardo Arias grabbed their second goals of the 2010 campaign in the second half. Newcomers Paul Freeman, Braxton Perkins and C.J. Denning all turned in a pair of assists, with Brown and Dragan Lipovac each tallied one.
Chris Riveros, Brandon Chambers and Raimond Kwarteng all took shots for Chowan, who also got a 12-save outing from netminder Scott Cullen. Three different Braves saw time between the pipes on the night, with starter Ryan Hanson grabbing the only save for the Black and Gold on the night. Dean Moore and Jon Sheffield each split time in the second half at the position as well.
Eighteen different players recorded playing time on the night for the Braves, who managed a season-best 37 shots and nine corner kicks in the contest as well.
"We moved the ball around well tonight and were able to score some great goals," said UNCP head coach Phil Hindson. "It was good for everybody to get on the field and get some playing time tonight, especially our younger guys. Since the second half of our game against Lander, I think we have played very well and I think that has changed some things."
Tomter, Brown and Davis each scored first half goals to give the Braves a 3-0 lead at the halftime break, and the Braves doubled their lead in the contest with three goals in a span of 2:02 just less than 15 minutes into the second stanza. Tomter put the finishing touches on his hat trick in the 62nd minute, Brown added his second score 18 minutes later and Arias and Francis put the finishing touches on the rout in the final 10 minutes of the outing.
UNCP will be back in action again on Saturday when the Braves close out their regular season schedule by battling Peach Belt Conference rival North Georgia (8-5-3, 2-4-1 PBC) in a 3:30 p.m. Senior Day contest at Varsity Grounds. The game will be preceded by a ceremony to honor UNCP men's soccer's Class of 2010 – Moore, Brown, Jose Abreu, Connor O'Boyle and Ian Wagner.
