MERCED, Calif. - The 17th-ranked University of California, Merced men's soccer team controlled the season-opening match on both ends of the field and a career-high performance from Andres Lua propelled the Bobcats to a 5-0 win over Pacific Union College Sunday afternoon on Bobcat Field.

The season opener marked the Bobcats first match since December 2, 2019 but it was as if head coach Albert Martins' squad was already in postseason form. UC Merced managed to get off 37 shots, while limiting Pacific Union College to just three in the victory.

The neighborhood hero, Lua, was the first Bobcat to score in 2021 and he notched the game-winning goal in the 25th minute. Juan Flores recorded the assist on the play, as he peppered the opposing goalkeeper with a shot that was batted down and Lua followed with a one-timer. The Le Grand, Calif., native has scored a goal in four straight matches dating back to last season.

Lua scored again roughly five minutes later with a laser into the far top corner of the net to put the Bobcats up 2-0. Sunday marked his third career multi-goal game, becoming the 6th Bobcat in program history to accomplish that feat. 

Lua added an assist in the second half, giving him a career-high five points in the match. 

After a flurry of shots and corner kicks to start the second half, Rodolfo Prado extended the Bobcats lead to 3-0 in the 70th minute with a highlight reel goal. The stellar defender has now scored a goal in each of his first three seasons.

Seven Bobcats made their collegiate debut in the victory, including Kevin Capetillo who made his Sunday extra memorable with an insurance goal in the 74th minute. Capetillo is the sixth Bobcat in program history to score in his debut.

Omar Martinez scored his second career goal in the 87th minute. Martinez, with the help of Christian Gaona and Bryan Raul Barrera setting him up, raced down the field and beat the keeper over the top to finalize the scoring in the Bobcats 5-0 victory.

Overall, 25 Bobcats took the field for the season opener and 15 managed to get a shot off. Flores peppered Pacific Union with a career-high eight shots, while Lua and Sebastian Perez each recorded four. 

Marco Sobrevilla, Brycen Miller and Alberto Gutierrez split time in net for the Bobcats. Sobrevilla got the bulk of the time (45 minutes). Sobrevilla and company did not have to make a save.

Newcomers Anthoni Martin and Bryan Ayala made their first career starts. Other notables include three shots from the reigning Cal Pac Player of the Year Marcos Ceballos and the debut of Merced natives Anthony Rivera and Roberto Ceja. Both Rivera & Ceja attended El Capitan High School. The Bobcats also took 14 corner kicks, nearing the program-record of 17 back in the 2016 season.

Looking ahead, the Bobcats welcome Providence Christian College to Bobcat Field on Saturday, February 27 at 3:00pm.