Box Score

EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice turned a scoreless halftime margin to a 3-0 victory over Northeast Texas on Friday at the Bengal Soccer Complex.  The win secured the Bengals (16-1) a berth in Saturday's Gulf South District Championship.
 
"I'm proud of the way our guys continued to battle until we were able to finally break into the scoring column," LSU Eunice men's soccer head coach Josh McReynolds said.  "Our guys have raised their game as the stakes have been raised as well."
 
LSUE and Northeast Texas went back and forth throughout the first half with the Bengals getting a few offensive opportunities inside the box that were shoved away by the Eagle defense.
 
Noah Wagner (Corpus Christi, TX, Veterans Memorial HS) helped LSUE break the tie as the sophomore was able to sneak past the NTCC backline off an Igor Castillo-Veliz (Baton Rouge, LA, Woodlawn HS) through ball.  Wagner powered his left foot to the back post in the 50th minute to give LSUE the 1-0 edge.
 
Wagner secured the brace in the 68th minute as he combined with Nicolai Small (Harbour View, Jamaica, Camperdown HS) inside the 18-yard box.  His nation's best tying 27th goal would come off a toe flick that trickled past the NTCC goalkeeper.
 
LSU Eunice would put the game on ice in the 84th as a fast break would end with Hunter Hulin (Maurice, LA, North Vermilion HS) curving in a far post shot for his first goal of the season.
 
Zaykeese Smith (Charlestown, St. Kitts & Nevis, Charlestown Secondary School) helped anchor a Bengal defensive unit that secured their 10th shutout of the season.
 
LSUE will play the winner of the second semifinal in the Gulf South District featuring Tyler JC and Jones College.  The championship game is set for a 5:30PM start time on Saturday, November 9 from the Bengal Soccer Complex.