Newberry 5, Bob Jones 3: Curtis’ hat trick and a second burst secure the win
MEN’S SOCCER · SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 · RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
Executive brief
Newberry won in Greenville after building a three-goal lead, seeing it reduced to one, then producing two quick second-half goals. [1]
Official data — match profile
| Metric | Newberry | Bob Jones |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 5 | 3 |
| Halftime | 3 | 1 |
| Shots | 12 | 11 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 6 |
| Corners | 2 | 5 |
Official match statistics. [1]
Decisive passages
Ben Curtis scored at 1:17, 4:27 and 30:02. Jackson Reinhard replied at 36:19 and Solomon Leaman at 49:04. Denys Bekhvandi scored at 62:05, Yasin Benu Cetin at 62:54, and Will Hotchkin added Bob Jones’ third at 72:45. [1]
Player impact
Curtis completed a first-half hat trick. Bekhvandi and Cetin’s goals came forty-nine seconds apart, restoring a three-goal cushion after the Bruins had moved within one. [1]
Mayberry’s take
The result had two separate Newberry attacking surges. The first created a substantial lead early enough to shape the match; the second arrived when the home comeback had made the outcome much less comfortable.
That second response is essential to understanding the win. Newberry did not simply preserve the original cushion from start to finish. It had to rebuild separation after conceding either side of halftime.
The close attempt totals also prevent a misleading account based only on the five goals. Both teams recorded six shots on target, and Bob Jones scored three times. The winning performance contained decisive finishing, but also defensive issues that the final margin should not hide.
For Newberry, the useful lesson is to retain the attacking execution while reviewing how a three-goal lead became a one-goal contest. The later goals solved that problem on this occasion; relying on another scoring burst is not a substitute for protecting an advantage.
Conference context
This was a nonconference win for Newberry. Curtis’ hat trick and the quick second-half response supplied clear attacking positives to carry into subsequent SAC preparation. The three concessions remain part of the assessment, even on a night when the scoring return was enough to win.