PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's soccer team kicked off its 2022 campaign by getting two first half goals from two newcomers and a pressure defense that swarmed around any Belhaven attack as the Wildcats collected its first clean sheet of the season with a 2-0 win over the Blazers Friday evening at Wildcat Field.
 
Just moments after having what they believed to be the match's opening goal erased by an offside flag, the Wildcats would strike as Alvaro Tudanca slipped the ball to Sergio Pita Martín who beat the Blazer goalkeeper to give LCU a 1-0 lead after the match had just slipped into the 30^th minute.
 
With the clock winding down towards the half, the Wildcats did not rest on its one goal advantage. Fernando Zanforlin Vidal put the ball into the box, which found the foot of Blaze Restivo and in one motion, Restivo turned and blasted a shot into the top of the net for the LCU's much-needed second goal with just 22 seconds remaining before the break.
 
The second 45 minutes went by scoreless as LCU fought to keep the clean sheet while Belhaven desperately attempted to get back into the match.
 
Sergio Pita Martín and Blaze Restivo both scored their first goals as Wildcats in the match while Alvaro Tudanca and Fernando Zanforlin Vidal both tallied their first assists of 2022.
 
Martin Hernandez (1-0) and Blaine Bourgeois each played 45 minutes in net for the Wildcats to combine for the clean sheet. Hernandez was called on to make one save during his time in goal. Bourgeois was credited with two saves during the second half to complete the shutout.
 
The Wildcats (1-0) have now opened the season with a victory in both of their seasons since the move into the NAIA. They go for a second straight win on Thursday as Blue Mountain comes to Pineville. Kickoff of Thursday's match against the Toppers (0-1) is set for 7:00 P.M. at Wildcat Field.