Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics

METAIRIE, La. - It took two days longer than anticipated, but Xavier Men's Soccer made the most of its debut in the Southern States Athletic Conference, defeating Brewton-Parker 6-0 at Lafreniere Park on Saturday. 

No. 25 XULA (3-2, 1-0 SSAC), which had its Thursday SSAC match against Thomas (Ga.) canceled due to severe storms in the New Orleans area, came out with spirit in the first half. The Gold Rush got a pair of early goals and took a 2-0 lead into the break. 

First, Felipe Braga scored on a pass from Antonio Merola in the 6th minute. Then, in the 8th minute, Benjamin Iglesias intercepted a pass near the top of the Brewton-Parker box and scored an unassisted goal.

Adding to the moment was the fact that Xavier was celebrating International Day, a time when XULA Athletics acknowledges the wonderful students and student-athletes who attend the university from all corners of the globe. 

The international Gold Rush players showed their pride by wearing the flags of their home nations during the starting lineups. 

All three of the men responsible for Xavier's first-half goals fell into that category, as Braga is from Brazil, Merola hails from Belgium, and Iglesias is a native of Chile. Lenno Schmidt, who played in goal for the Gold Rush and finished with a clean sheet, is from Germany. 

In the second half, the Gold Rush blew the game open, with Braga eventually securing a brace on a goal in the 62nd minute that came courtesy of an assist from Bruno Abdallah, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, and another of XULA's standout international players.

Abdallah scored a goal of his own in the 69th minute thanks to an assist by Iglesias. 

Freshman Ellison Haynes, a Louisiana native and product of David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy in Lafayette, scored an unassisted goal in the 73rd minute, and Diego Vasquez, who calls Chile home, capped the scoring in the 86th minute with an unassisted goal. 

Defensively, Xavier limited Brewton-Parker (0-7-1, 0-2 SSAC) to no shots on goal and just 4 shots in total. By comparison, the Gold Rush got off 25 shots, 16 of which were on goal. 

XULA next has a four-game conference road trip, beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. with a visit to Montgomery, Alabama, and No. 22 Faulkner University. A 2 p.m. Saturday match at Mobile will round out next week's action.