Elizabeth City, NC – The Regent University Men's Soccer team opened the 2023 regular on the road Wednesday, just across the border at Mid-Atlantic Christian University in North Carolina. This would be the third match-up between the two schools, with the Royals winning the previous two and, as the final horn sounded, Regent extended that win streak to three with a convincing 4-1 win. 

Just 3:10 into the first half, Sophomore John Paul Mancilla Campos (Kannapolis, NC) put the Royals on the board with a shot, that got past the Mustang goalkeeper, for the early lead, 1-0. The scoring would continue as Freshman Tyler Hambright (Stevens, PA) scored his first collegiate goal at the 7:51 mark of the game increasing the margin to 2-0. The defense was able to prevent MACU from any scoring chances and that would turn into a converted scoring opportunity when Freshman Joseph Hawkins (Virginia Beach, VA) found Junior Cameron Laubach (Millville, PA), who put the ball into the back of the net. That was followed by the fourth Regent goal, and second of the game, from Hambright, giving the Royals a commanding lead 4-0. The Mustangs were able to get one back but were unable to pull any closer and Regent would begin the season with the road win, 4-1. 

Hambright led the Royals with two goals, while goalies Freshman Conner Henriques (Spotsylvania, VA), who got the start, and Junior Loyd Shelton (Franklin, VA) shut down the MACU offense. As a team, Regent out shot the Mustangs by a 22-3 margin and attempted 12 corner kicks to the Mustangs zero.  

The Royals return action on Saturday, August 26th, as they host Christendom College in their home opener at Moore Field on the campus of Norfolk Christian Upper School. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00pm.