NEWBERRY - It couldn't have gone much better for first year head coach Sam Okpodu, as he watched his Newberry Indians (1-0) score in the 14th minute and never look back in a 5-0 shellacking over visiting Coker College (0-1) in men's soccer action Saturday. 

"I was very encouraged by our play today," said Okpodu. "Our play was sloppy in the first half, but we pulled together in the second to really play some beautiful soccer."

While the day belonged to Okpodu, collecting his first win wearing the scarlet and gray, one would have to mention the performance turned in by junior midfielder Ricardo Silveira.  Silveria, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, made the most in his first game for Newberry, completing a hat trick with three goals in as many shot attempts.

Team co-captain and preseason first team All-South Atlantic Conference member Brandon Cockrell got Newberry on the board first, finding the back of the net after a shoestring pass from forward Troy Pinckney.  Cockrell then displayed some fancy passing of his own, notching an assist on the Indians/ second goal of the contest, knocked home by midfielder Juan Pablo Wunder.

The second half was all Silveria.

He struck first on a magnificent goal from midfield off the initial touch of the half.  The ball sailed just over the hands of Coker goalkeeper Aaron Osteen, as Newberry took a 3-nil lead just seconds after the half began.  Then, in the 64th minute, Chad Domis found Silveria in the box off a beautiful header for his second goal.  Team captain Miles Childers also racked up an assist on the goal.

In the 81st minute, Cockrell picked up his second assist of the afternoon, getting the ball up field to Silveria, as he put it between the posts for the final goal of the contest.  Sophomore goalkeeper Brian Linn notched four saves in the shutout victory.

Newberry out-shot the Cobras 21 to 9.  The game was marked by physical play from both teams, as a total of 24 fouls and six yellow cards were issued during the match.

The next test of Okpodu and the Indians comes Sept. 3rd, as Brevard College comes calling.  The game kicks off at 4 p.m. on Friday.