SMU’s Gabe Arredondo (right) tries to get past a Centenary defender during Thursday night’s game at Westcott Field. The Mustangs beat the Gents 5-1. (Stuart Palley)

After a tough weekend tournament in New Mexico, the SMU men’s soccer team bounced back in a big way against the Centenary Gents. The 5-1 victory was filled with highlight reel passes and goals where the Mustangs talent was on full display for the entire crowd. With the win, the 11th ranked Mustangs improve to 3-2-1.

The game began with early action when the Gents’ Todd Faulkinberry scored the first goal of the game in only the third minute. He was assisted on the play by goalie James Speed. The goal came when the ball got loose in the box and Faulkinberry headed it right over goalie Steve Sandbo.

It took the Mustangs’ Richard Oliva only 21 seconds to respond with a goal of his own. He hit a five yard shot into the back of the net after a brilliant cross by sophomore forward Dane Saintus. Midfielder Ben Shuleva was also credited with an assist on the play.

In the 15th minute of play, things got a little out of hand when the Gents’ Aron Taylor received a red card after strangling Saintus from behind. The Gents’ were forced to play with only 10 men for the rest of the game.

The Mustangs added another goal in the 19th minute when Saintus tapped the ball into the lower right-hand corner. Bruno Guarda was credited with the assist after a long leading pass through multiple defenders.

The half ended with a score of 2-1 even though the Gents played a man down for almost the entire half. The Mustangs out shot the Gents 13-3 in the first half alone.

In the second half, SMU dominated play with three goals and another 11 shots. The first goal of the half came in the 61st minute when Oliva scored his second goal of the game on Guarda’s second assist of the game.

Nine minutes later, freshman midfielder Keoki Haole scored the first goal of his SMU career from about eight yards out. Saintus and fellow Hawaiian Keoka Osorio assisted him on the play.

The final goal of the game came in the 76th minute when Bruno Guarda scored his third goal of the season on a free kick. The shot was from about 25 yards out and was bent right over the defensive line.

Tonight’s victory came without the services of some key SMU starters. Players Jeff Harwell, Adrian Chevannes, Leone Cruz and Paolo da Silva were all out with injuries suffered over the weekend tournament in New Mexico

Mustangs’ coach Schellas Hyndman thought this was the rebound the Mustangs were looking for on Thursday.

“It says a lot about our players to come back after Centenary scored the first goal so early in the game,” said Hyndman

SMU plays again at home on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The game against Oral Roberts will be “tough due to the talented individual players and focused approach,” said Hyndman.

Saturday’s game marks the last game before conference play begins next week.