DANVILLE, Va. - The William Peace University men's soccer team opened the 2026 season with a dominant 8-1 win over Averett University Tuesday night.
The Pacers (1-0-0) scored eight times in the first half, with seven different players finding the back of the net.
Roberto Rayo got Peace on the board in the 12th minute off an assist from Tambe Mboumein. Mboumein followed with a goal of his own five minutes later, assisted by Joey Hurley, before Gabriel Faria Jr. made it 3-0 in the 18th minute off a pass from Ehmular Hser.
Peace added five more goals over the final 15 minutes of the half. Gavin Beaupre scored in the 31st minute before Topher Johnson made it 5-0 two minutes later. Santiago Escobar, Marky Ruiz and Johnson followed with goals to give the Pacers an 8-0 lead at halftime.
Johnson finished with two goals to lead the Pacers, while Beaupre and Mboumein each recorded a goal and two assists. Escobar added a goal and an assist.
William Peace finished with a 33-4 advantage in shots and put 21 attempts on goal. Freshman Dallas Story made his collegiate debut in goal, earning the start and making one save in a scoreless first half. Aaden McMann and Rafa Vega-Aguilar split time in goal during the second half as the Pacers came within the final minutes of securing a clean sheet. Averett's Will Davis broke through in the 89th minute off an assist from Michael Milligan for the Cougars' lone goal of the night.
The Pacers return to action Friday, Sept. 4, when they travel to Hampden-Sydney for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
