BOCA RATON, Fla. – Stetson men's soccer notched the first goal of the match, but ultimately fell to Florida Atlantic, 2-1, on a hot Wednesday night at the FAU Soccer Complex.
 
Redshirt sophomore Connor Bates opened the scoring in the 38th minute. The tally was the first time Bates put his mark on the scoresheet.
 
Following a Hatters' corner kick, the midfielder was first to get to the ball that had deflected around the goal box. Bates sent the ball into the lower left corner of the net before any opponent could react and pushed Stetson in front, 1-0.
 
The Owls evened the score (1-1) five minutes and 42 seconds later when the Owls' Leo Keller finished a corner kick. The game remained knotted at one through the end of the first half.
 
FAU got in front after converting a penalty less than two minutes into the second half. FAU's Victor Claudel registered the goal from the spot 12 yards out from the net 84 seconds into the final frame.
 
Florida Atlantic looked to push the game out of reach with a flurry of chances between the 65th and 80th minute, but the Hatter defense did not break again.
 
SU made a push in the final 10 minutes, and had a pair of opportunities with a corner kick with two minutes and 12 seconds left combined with attacking play, but the Owl defense was not breached for a second time.
 
Men's soccer will next face its first ASUN opponent as Queens travels to DeLand, Florida, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday night.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.