SOAR/Goodman Spectroscopic Assessment of Candidate Counterparts of the LIGO/Virgo Event GW190814*

On 2019 August 14 at 21:10:39 UTC, the LIGO/Virgo Collaboration (LVC) detected a possible neutron star-black hole merger (NSBH), first ever identified. An extensive search for an optical counterpart of this event, designated GW190814, was undertaken using Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on 4m Victor M. Blanco Telescope Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. Target Opportunity interrupts were issued 8 separate nights to observe 11 candidates 4.1m Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope's Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph in order assess whether any these transients likely be NSBH merger. Here, we describe process observing with SOAR, analysis our spectra, spectroscopic typing methodology, and resultant conclusion that none corresponded gravitational wave event but all instead other transients. Finally, lessons learned from effort. Application will critical successful community follow-up program LVC run 4 (O4) beyond.