Catawba Men's Soccer Downs Carson-Newman 3-0
The victory maintains the team's unbeaten record and holds their lead in the South Atlantic Conference standings.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Soccer
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Catawba defeated Carson-Newman 3-0 at Frock Field in Salisbury, N.C. on October 24, 2026. The win keeps Catawba atop the South Atlantic Conference race.
Why it matters
The result sustains Catawba's perfect 12-0-2 overall record and secures a two-point lead in the conference standings. Maintaining this momentum is crucial for the team's positioning as the championship season reaches its final phase.
Catawba moved to a 12-0-2 record behind Alex Payton's eighth and ninth goals of the season and Héctor Vara's eighth clean sheet. The team currently holds 25 points in the standings.
The players
Alex Payton
He is a key offensive contributor for the Catawba men's soccer team.
João Magalhães
He is a midfielder or forward who creates and finishes scoring chances for Catawba.
Héctor Vara
He serves as the primary goalkeeper for the Catawba men's soccer program.
Catawba
The institution sponsors a competitive men's soccer program currently leading its conference.
Carson-Newman
This university operates a men's soccer program that competes in the South Atlantic Conference.
The details
Alex Payton scored twice, while João Magalhães added a goal and an assist to lead the offense. Defensively, Héctor Vara recorded five saves to maintain the shutout despite Catawba and Carson-Newman both registering 16 total shots.
Timeline
7th minute: Breno Andreucci's shot hit the crossbar.
25th minute: Alex Payton scored the first goal.
37th minute: Héctor Vara made a leaping save.
62nd minute: João Magalhães scored the second goal.
72nd minute: Alex Payton scored the third goal.
Season Trajectory
This win cements Catawba's status as a primary contender for the conference title as the regular season draws to a close. The team's performance positions them favorably for upcoming conference tournament seeding.
With 25 points now in the conference standings, Catawba holds a two-point cushion over the rest of the field. The clean sheet from Héctor Vara maintains the team's defensive momentum heading into the final matches of the year.
The takeaway
The team's ability to maintain an unbeaten record through 14 matches demonstrates consistent depth and defensive reliability. Fans should monitor the team's performance against Coker next week to see if they can maintain their narrow conference lead.
What happens next
Catawba is scheduled to host Coker on October 28, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local matches and team updates, visit the Soccer page.
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