PHOTOS | HIGHLIGHTS
HUNTSVILLE | Kyle Simmons ended his regular season career at home the same way that he started it, registering a hat trick to help propel the University of Alabama in Huntsville men's soccer team to a 5-1 Senior Night win over visiting Carson-Newman. The Chargers improve to 12-3-1 on the season, while the Eagles slip to 6-8-2.
 
Matching his performance from Sept. 1, 2011, when he scored three times in his collegiate debut, Simmons started his three-goal night quickly as Hermann Bjornsson played a great ball to Anthony Benitez who quickly crossed it to Simmons who was able to bury it in the 5th minute to provide the Chargers with a 1-0 lead.
 
Simmons, though he would not appear on the stat sheet, then factored into the team's second score as he sent a brilliant cross to his right to Bjornsson who had two quick shots stopped by the Carson-Newman keeper before finally pushing it past to produce a 2-0 advantage that would hold through to the end of the half.
 
The second goal of the night for the Huntsville native Simmons came in the 59th when Benitez set him up, and the senior would cap off his night when he buried a penalty kick in the 72nd to give him his fourth career hat trick as he also notched a pair in his junior season.
 
Carson-Newman broke up UAH's shutout bid in the 87th minute when Marius Staalby scored, but the four-goal margin was wrapped up for the Chargers when freshman Bailey Oliver scored his second in as many games in the final minute of the contest.
 
UAH dominated the game, holding a 19-6 advantage in shots with Simmons taking nine, and the Chargers earned three corners to Carson-Newman's one.
 
Prior to the contest, the team's seven seniors – Benitez, Simmons, Andrew Ingram, Cyprin Kanneh, Brett McCormick, and Mitch Wilson – were honored as they played their last regular season game at Charger Park, and each were able to record minutes in the game.
 
UAH will now travel to West Alabama on Friday night for a crucial contest that will determine the second and third seeds of the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament. The No. 2 seed will earn a bye to the semifinals, while the third-seeded team will host the sixth seed on Tuesday in the opening round.