The No. 13 Rockhurst University men's soccer team responded in a big way Saturday (August 29) night, earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Newman in the Hawks' home opener at Bourke Field.

Rockhurst wasted little time settling in at home, controlling much of the attacking action and putting pressure on the Newman defense throughout the night. The Hawks broke through first in the 43rd minute when Nicolas Schrag found the back of the net. Schrag capitalized on a loose ball in the box, firing home from 12 yards to give Rockhurst a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime. The goal marked Schrag's first of the season, with Yosuke Ono credited with the assist.

Rockhurst continued to apply pressure after halftime, but Newman found an equalizer in the 77th minute when Jonathan Garcia converted off a corner kick to make it 1-1.
With just over eight minutes remaining, Troy Lor delivered the decisive moment. Lor recovered a loose ball and buried a shot from 15 yards in the 83rd minute, putting Rockhurst back in front, 2-1.

The Hawks held off Newman over the final minutes to secure their first victory of the 2026 season. Schrag led the Hawks offensively with three shots, including one on goal and one goal. Sam McIntosh, Blake Barrick and Riccardo Legnante each added two shots, while Lor finished with one shot and the game-winning goal. Ono played a key role in the attack as well, recording the assist on Schrag's opening goal. Defensively, goalkeeper Samuele Neri went the full 90 minutes and made three saves to earn the victory.

Rockhurst's 15 shots were generated by 11 different Hawks, showcasing the balanced attack that kept Newman under pressure throughout the match. The Hawks finished with a 15-8 advantage in total shots and put five attempts on frame, while Newman recorded four shots on goal.

The No. 13 Hawks are back at Bourke Field Wednesday (Sept. 2) when they host Rogers State before beginning conference action.