DeLand, Fla. ? Forwards Gonzalo deMujica (Weston, Fla.) and Kevin Munz (Jupiter, Fla.) led Stetson (8-6-2, 5-3-1) to its third consecutive win heading into the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The 4-1 win over East Tennessee State (5-10-1, 1-7-1) came on senior day at the Stetson Soccer Complex.
It was the final home game in the careers of Cody Dawson (Niceville, Fla.), Marc Galizia (Bradenton, Fla.), Alex Robinson (DeLand, Fla.), Richard Porteous (Austin, Texas) and Kirk Labusch (Tampa, Fla.). It is a senior class that won an A-Sun Tournament Championship in 2005 and a regular season title in 2006.
Stetson opened the scoring at 19:35 on a goal by Munz. Midfielder Kirk Labusch made a run down the right side and crossed the ball deep into the box, deMujica deflected it to Munz who scored from five yards out for his fourth goal of the season.
At 27:12 Richard Porteous was next to deliver for the Hatters. deMujica started the play with a nifty pass to Labusch who flicked the ball back to the center. Porteous quickly gained control and blasted a low shot to the back of the net from 20 yards for a 2-0 Hatters lead.
The final goal of the first half was scored by freshman Fredrik Brustad (Oslo, Norway) as a result of a Stetson counter attack. Munz gained possession and made a long run down the center of the field. He found deMujica who then slipped a through ball to Brustad for a wide open shot and his 4th goal of the season.
Freshman deMujica finished the half with a trio of assists, while Munz, a junior, had an assist to go along with his goal.
“Gonzo and Munzy are becoming quite a duo,” said Hatters Head Coach Logan Fleck.
Gonzalo was not quite done as he tallied the team's final goal at 51:40 of the second half. Fellow freshman Jack Johnson (London, England) delivered a long pass over the defense that sent deMujica in on a break away. After a flick and a leap over the sprawling keeper, he guided the ball into the open net for his 4th goal of the season.
deMujica's five points in the game elevated him into the team lead in scoring this season with 15 points.
“Gonzalo is maturing into roll we want which is a game-changer,” said Fleck. “He is living up to the hype and its happening at the right time.
Labusch also had a great offensive game with a pair of assists.
ETSU's Blake Pelton scored the final goal of the game at 67:52 with an assist from Tyler Hoek.
Stetson finished with a 19-9 advantage in shots, and 7-5 in corner kicks.
“The guys wanted to play well today for the seniors. It was their last game here at home,” said Fleck.
Following the win all five seniors were carried off the field by their teammates.
Next up for Stetson is the A-Sun Tournament that begins November 12 in Buies Creek, N.C.
