The home fans had a chance to stand up and cheer the return of good fortune Saturday afternoon as the Hatters defeated Campbell University 4-1 at the Stetson Soccer Complex.
From the opening minute Stetson put on a relentless offensive attack that could not be denied by the Fighting Camels. In the sixth minute senior Kelsey Kramer opened up the scoring for the Hatters with her first goal of the season. Junior Sarah Isley floated a corner kick into the box where it deflected off a couple of Campbell players. Kramer found the ball and booted it into the top left corner of the goal.
Less than five minutes later sophomore Emily Yero put the Hatters up by two with her third goal of the season. Once again the play was started on a corner kick by Isley. It continued when the ball glanced off Kramer, and was finished on a header by Yero. Kramer and Isley were credited with assists.
“I really have been happy with our play the past four games. What we really needed was a few breaks and we got them today”, said Hatters Head Coach Julie Orlowski. “It was nice to get off to a quick start with three goals in the first 25 minutes. “Scoring early turned a frustrated team into a confident team.”
The third goal was scored at 24:38 when senior Sarah Stock netted her 5th goal of the season on a spectacular diving header off a cross by Isley.
“It is nice to see Sarah scoring goals again”, said Orlowski.
After scoring four goals in the first three games of the season, Stock, the team's leading scorer, had not put one in the net since the Baylor game on September 9.
Then, midway through the second half Stock was at it again when she scored her second goal of the game and 6th of the season after being sent in on an assist by Kramer.
There were a number of offensive stars in the win over Campbell. Kramer scored one goal and had two assists. Stock scored a pair of goals, while Isley officially dished out two assists and managed to set up the games first goal with her corner kick.
“Our goal going into this weekend was to continue playing better each time stepped onto the field”, said Orlowski. “We did that and hope to continue next weekend when we play North Florida and Jacksonville.”
The win raised Stetson's record to 3-7-1 overall and 1-3-1 in conference play. Campbell dropped to 1-6-1 and 0-2-1 in the A-Sun. Stetson will host UNF on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before traveling to Jacksonville on Sunday to take on the Dolphins at 5:00 p.m.
