Gillespie Scores Four As Regent Closes Out Last Exhibition With 11-0 Win Over MACU
Virginia Beach, VA - The Regent University Men's Soccer team closed out its 2026 exhibition portion of their schedule win an 11-0 win over Mid-Atlantic Christian University on Thursday night. The Royals controlled the match from start to finish, scoring five times in the opening half before adding six more goals after the break. Regent finished the night with a commanding 40-4 advantage in shots, including a 23-1 edge in shots on goal.
The Royals wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Freshman John Adams (Chesapeake, VA) scored the first goal of the season in the eighth minute off an assist from Senior Issac Milla (Chesapeake, VA). The Royals doubled their advantage when Freshman David Gillespie (Odessa, FL) found the back of the net following an assist from Freshman Jones Ferguson (San Antonio, TX). The offensive pressure continued as Freshman Collin Pennington (Ocean City, MD) scored an unassisted goal in the 22nd minute to extend the lead to 3-0. Freshman Toby Tracht (Catonsville, MD) followed with his first goal of the season at 28:51, with Junior Melvin Maldonado (Annandale, MD) picking up the assist.
Freshman Salvador Rendon (Chesapeake, VA) closed out the first-half scoring in the 40th minute, sending Regent into halftime with a commanding 5-0 advantage.
The Royals showed no signs of slowing down after the break and just 22 seconds into the second half, Gillespie struck again to make it 6-0. Pennington added his second goal less than four minutes later off an assist from Freshman Jack Houseknecht (Yorktown, VA) before Gillespie took over the match. Gillespie completed his hat trick in the 56th minute when Freshman Nathan Rizor (Chesaoeake, VA) set him up for Regent's eighth goal. He then added his fourth goal of the match at 65:12, giving the Royals a 9-0 advantage. Gillespie finished the night with four goals on seven shots, placing all four of his shots on goal into the back of the net. Pennington also turned in a multi-goal performance, scoring twice on three attempts.
Regent wasn't finished. Maldonado converted a Tracht assist in the 77th minute before Sophomore Landon Farley (Suffolk, VA) capped the scoring at 79:27 off an assist from Rendon, giving the Royals their 11th and final goal of the evening.
The balanced Regent attack saw seven different Royals score, led by Gillespie's four goals and Pennington's two. Adams, Tracht, Rendon, Maldonado and Farley each added a goal. Ferguson, Houseknecht, Milla, Maldonado, Rizor, Tracht and Rendon each recorded an assist.
While the offense filled the stat sheet, Regent's defense was equally impressive. The Royals limited Mid-Atlantic Christian to just four total shots and only one attempt on goal. Senior Trevor Grosch (Chesapeake, VA) and Freshman Lucas Berdecio (Chesapeake, VA) combined for the shutout victory.
Regent will open the regular season on the road in Farmville, VA on Tuesday,Sept 1st when they face Hampden-Sydney College. Kick-off os scheduled for 6:00pm.
