GENTS SOCCER GETS OFF TO FAST START Centenary Gents Soccer finished a banner year under the direction of interim head coach Kyle Symczak. The Gents began 2016 with three straight wins, the best start to a season in nearly 30 years. The Maroon and White finished the season 7-12 overall and 3-11 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The 2016 season featured many memorable moments. Sitting 3-4 overall and 0-3 after three conference road games, the Gents excited the crowd in their first home SCAC contest in September. After Centenary and Schreiner tied at one at the end of regulation, Gents freshman Scott Halper scored the golden goal in the 92nd minute.
The third straight shutout by the Gents made for quite the Senior Day on October 29 against Austin College. Sophomore Nick Hammond scored the gamewinner in the 86th minute. In the final game of his Centenary career, Whan grabbed five saves.
The Gents finished the season just as they began, with three straight wins. All games were thrilling 1-0 victories, including the final two home games of the season. On October 23 against Dallas, Centenary scored on an own goal in the 67th minute. Senior goalie Rylan Whan added eight saves to preserve the shutout.
With a save in the 17th minute against the ‘Roos, Whan tallied the 400th save of his career. He finished his career as the Gents all-time leader in that category with 404 stops. The Maroon and White also recognized fouryear starters Shane Edmondson and Jeremy Klespis for their contributions to the program.
In the final non-conference game at Hendrix on October 25, freshman Lamarr Meza made his first collegiate start in goal memorable. He grabbed five saves, while freshman Travis Schantz found the back of the net in the 63rd minute in the 1-0 victory against the Warriors.
Despite a mid-season lull that saw the Gents lose eight straight games, Centenary came up just short of two monumental upsets at Mayo Field. On September 25, the Gents took undefeated and top-ranked Trinity to double overtime. However, the Tigers scored in the 103rd minute to
Freshman midfielder Gabe Rodriguez in action against Belhaven.
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thwart the Gents’ upset bid. The Gents almost pulled off another historic upset on October 21, as Centenary and #20 Colorado College stood tied at 1-1 at half. Unfortunately, the Tigers scored the game-winner in the second half to pull out the 2-1 win. For the season, the Gents defense allowed nearly a goal less per game than in 2015. The Gents, who turned in their winningest season in five years, ended 2016 on a high-note winning their final three games all by 1-0 shutouts.
LADIES SOCCER MAKES SCAC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT The 2016 Ladies soccer team recorded its winningest season in five years and grabbed the fifth seed in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. Despite a heartbreaking 3-2 loss
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