The Stetson men's team steered back onto the winning track Friday night with a 2-0 shutout of Belmont University at the Stetson Soccer Complex. The Hatters, ranked #9 in this week's NSCAA South Region Poll, controlled play for the entire first half and the final 15 minutes of the second.
Stetson opened the scoring at 29:05 following an impressive display of ball control. After no less than nine passes, junior midfielder Kirk LaBusch (Brandon, FL) delivered the ball into the box and freshman forward Eugene Starikov (Palm Harbor, FL) finished the drive with a header past Belmont goalkeeper Ron Gravely. It was the fifth goal of the season for Starikov who took the team lead in that category.
“Eugene would be the first one to say that his teammates set him up... It was his job to finish, said Hatters Head Coach Logan Fleck. “That goal showed our match maturity. Our composure was important.”
Coming out of halftime the Bruins took control of the field as the Hatters seemed more defensive-minded. The play was focused in Stetson's end. Each time Belmont tried to create opportunities the Hatters back four and goalkeeper Evan White (Surrey, British Columbia) turned them away. Defenders Robert Hodge (Devon, England) and Miguel Rodrigues (Johannesburg, South Africa) were an impenetrable force in the back third. White had to make just one save en route to his third shutout of the season.
Late in the second half the Hatters reassumed control of the pitch and sealed the victory. At 75:29 senior Tanner Wolfe (Hudson, FL) drove the ball along the ground and into the left back of the goal after a nifty drop-back-pass by Starikov (first assist of his collegiate career). With his fifth tally of the season Wolfe rejoined Starikov atop the team's goal scoring chart. Wolf maintained the team lead in points with 13 to Starikov's 11.
“We played well enough to win tonight. We created chances and we finished them”, said Fleck. “They tried to rattle us defensively and we maintained our consistency. I am happy with the win”.
Stetson led the Bruins in shots 6-1 in the first half and 10-5 overall.
The win raised the Hatters to 8-4-0 overall and 4-2-0 in conference. Belmont dropped to 4-7-2 and 1-4-1 in the A-Sun. Stetson will be back on the field Sunday to host Lipscomb University at 1:00 p.m.
