DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson (7-6-2, 4-3-1) opened up the offensive flood gates in the second half and cruised to a 5-1 win over USC Upstate (2-14-0, 1-7-0) Friday night in DeLand. It was a team effort as five different players scored for the Hatters.
Freshman Gonzalo deMujica (Weston, Fla.) supplied the game's only first half goal. Kevin Munz (Jupiter, Fla.) set up the play with a slick pass that allowed deMujica to create an opening for a 25 yard blast to the upper left side of the net. It was the third goal of the season for deMujica.
The eventual game-winner was scored early in the second half by another freshman, Fredrik Brustad out of Oslo, Norway. Brustad picked up a pass from Dan Sackman (Hampshire, England) at the top of the box, worked his way around the right side of the keeper and punched a low shot to the center for his third goal of the season.
“Fredrik showed us a lot tonight,” said Hatters Head Coach Logan Fleck. “He worked hard out wide and up top.”
Six minutes later Ryan Corning (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) scored Stetson's third goal of the game and his second of the season. deMujica fired a corner kick into the box. Corning was on the move from right to left, found himself in perfect position for a header, and then did not miss his opportunity.
At 63:14 Kevin Munz (Jupiter, Fla.) took advantage of his turn for a header and flicked a cross by Kirk Labusch (Brandon, Fla.) past the keeper and Stetson was up 4-0.
“Munzy and Gonzalo are starting to gel up front,” said Fleck. “Their chemistry is developing as they play more and more.”
Griffin Gilstrap (Safety Harbor, Fla.) put a cap on Stetson's scoring binge with his first of the season, and the second goal of his career. He was sent in alone with a nifty feed by Cody Dawson (Niceville, Fla.).
The Spartans scored the game's final goal with just under a minute remaining to finalize the score at 5-1.
“Our last game Sunday is about the seniors and then we have a week to get ready for the A-Sun tournament,” said Fleck. “I am confident this group has what it takes to mesh together and win a conference title.”
The Hatters will complete regular season when they host ETSU Sunday afternoon (1:00 p.m.) at the Stetson Soccer Complex. It will be Senior Day, the final home game in the careers of Marc Galizia, Kirk Labusch, Cody Dawson, Alex Robinson and Richard Porteous
