DeLand, Fla. - The Stetson women's soccer team cranked up the preseason Saturday evening with its first and only exhibition contest of 2010. The Hatters took the field against the Florida Tech Panthers, an NCAA Division II team out of Melbourne, Florida. The teams played two 35-minute halves with a running clock in a scrimmage-type atmosphere.
After 70 minutes in the rain and sunshine the game ended up in a 1-1 tie. Stetson struck first with a goal by senior Natalie Simon (Lauderhill, Fla.) midway through the first half. On a set piece, junior Alexis Hermosa (Orlando, Fla.) lifted a free kick from 30 feet that rolled close to the goal line and Simon tucked it inside the left post to finish the play.
Florida Tech answered in the second half with a 40 foot blast off the foot of Kelly Whittaker (Coopersburg, Pa.) that just slipped past Stetson keeper Andrea Garavaglia (Webster Groves, Mo.) for an unassisted goal.
The next time the Hatters take the field it will be for real. Stetson will host Florida Atlantic next Friday, August 20 at 7:00 pm. in the season opener.
