DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson (1-0-0) cruised to a 2-1 lead at the half and never looked back en route to a 6-1 season-opening win over Webber International University (0-1-0).
"This game allowed us to show our strengths and at times produce some very good play. However, we must continue to work hard to be able to consistently compete with the best,” said Hatters Head Coach Logan Fleck.
After spending most of the first 25 minutes in the offensive end of the field, Stetson faltered momentarily and allowed the Warriors to open up the scoring at 25:28 on a high lob shot that just cleared the outstretched hands of senior goalkeeper Marc Galizia (Bradenton, Fla.). It was the only goal for Webber on the evening as the Hatters outshot the Warriors 37-4 overall.
Junior midfielder Kevin Munz (Jupiter, Fla.) picked up the first goal for Stetson when he punched home a feed from Gonzalo deMujica. The nifty freshman out of Weston, Florida also set up senior Kirk Labusch (Brandon, Fla.) with Stetson's fifth goal and completed the scoring at 86:37 when Labusch returned the favor.
Stetson entered the season with 28 players on the roster, 14 of which are freshmen. Eight of those freshmen and 20 players overall made an appearance in Friday's game. Freshman Giulio D'Amore (DeLand, Fla.) scored the first goal of his career at 57:20 with an assist going to sophomore Eugene Starikov (Palm Harbor, Fla.).
Starikov, a member of last season's Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team, was sensational in the season opener with a pair of goals to go along with his assist. His first tally at 39:34 was the result of an amazing upside down bicycle kick. He followed that with the first goal of the second half on a low cross from Richard Porteous (Austin, Tx.). Fellow All-Freshman Team selection Miguel Rodrigues (Johannesburg, South Africa) also picked up an assist on the play.
"Eugene's game-winning goal was one of the best collegiate, professional, or international goals that I have seen in a long time,” said Fleck. “To put it succinctly, it was big-time!"
The Warrior goalkeepers were kept busy all night making a dozen saves. Of Stetson's 37 shots, 18 were on target.
Stetson will return to the field Friday September 5 when it hosts Florida International at 7:00 p.m.
