MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team exploded for a season-high eight goals in an 8-0 Senior Night win over Providence Christian College on Saturday night at Bobcat Field.

Senior Kevin Capetillo became the program's all-time assists leader on the game's first goal and overall the Bobcats (7-0-2, 3-0) seniors combined for four goals and four assists in the first half en route to the biggest margin of victory in 2024.

With the win, the Bobcats have tied their longest unbeaten streak to start the regular season in program history. The tremendous 7-0-2 start matches their start from the 2017 campaign, which resulted in the program's first ever NAIA National Championships appearance.

The Bobcats also extended their home unbeaten streak to 27 matches dating back to 2021.

After being celebrated with eleven other seniors prior to the match in a Senior Night ceremony, Capetillo made history in the sixth minute assisting the eventual game-winning goal scored by Jesus Enriquez. Capetillo's assist was the 38^th of his career, breaking the program's all-time assists record previously held by Juan Flores.

Capetillo sent a through ball down the right sideline to Daniel Borges who then played it into the box to the right foot of Enriquez for the goal. For Enriquez, his game-winning goal marked his second in the three early Cal Pac matches. Borges also assisted Enriquez's first GWG and he moves his assists total to five on the season.

Seniors Roberto Ceja and Diego Fresquez collected points in the 19^th minute extending the Bobcats lead to 2-0. Fresquez made a long run into the corner of the box before serving one back post to Ceja who touched it in beyond the goal line. Both of their tallies were their second in as many matches and Ceja moved into a tie with Brian Chongtoua for seventh in program history with 22 career goals.

Borges also made his way up the record books stepping up the penalty stripe and burying a PK to push the Bobcats lead to 3-0 in the 23^rd minute. His goal was the 20^th of his career, moving ahead of Cruz Trenado for ninth all-time.

He struck again in the 32^nd minute extending the Bobcats lead to 4-0. He scored from ten yards out off a rebound from a Xavier Barajas shot. Borges' brace was his second in a row, while Barajas' assist was his first of the season.

The Bobcats scoring surge continued in the second half as head coach Albert Martins' freshman got heavily involved. Just over 90 seconds post intermission, Christian Khanishian scored his first career goal as he was on the receiving end of a back post cross from Omar Garcia. Garcia's assist was his second in 2024.

Merced native Carlos Miranda scored the Bobcats next two goals to extend the lead to 7-0 in the 77^th minute. He took a long ball from Salvador Plancarte and accelerated through a pair of defenders to score his first goal of the night, and then headed in a perfect Javier Galvez cross for his first career brace.

Senior Hayden Scotti scored his first career goal and finalized the Bobcats scoring in the 84^th minute, blasting in a shot from inside the goal area which again came from a Galvez assist.

Galvez's two assist-performance came in his collegiate debut.

Plancarte's assist was his first in a UC Merced uniform.

The Bobcats were on the attack all night outshooting the Sea Beggars 44-4 and winning the corner kick battle 11-0.

Twenty-one Bobcats recorded at least one shot and eleven of those 21 Bobcats put at least one shot on goal. Borges held match-high with six shots, four on frame.

Goalkeeper Angel Joaquin split time with Manuel Zarco-Zarate for the shutout. The Bobcats keepers were not tasked with a save.

Zarco-Zarate's minutes marked his collegiate debut. Isaias Ruiz also made his collegiate debut and registered two of his three total shots on goal. Antonio Ochoa made his season debut.

Both the Bobcats eight goals and eight-goal margin of victory was the highest count since October 13, 2022.

UC Merced improved to 9-0 all-time against Providence Christian College.

Up next, UC Merced will play 21^st-ranked Westcliff University on Thursday, October 10 at OC Great Park Field 18 in Irvine, Calif. First touch is scheduled for 7:00pm.