GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Oct, 21, 2023
TIME: 7:30 PM ET |
LOCATION: Athletic Training Center
DeLand, Fla.
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GAME DAY LINK
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LIVE STATS
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THE LEAD
Stetson men's soccer will finish off their home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 21 as they host the Lipscomb Bisons for their return to conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM at the ATC with live stats available on GoHatters.com
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Hatters and the Bisons have met exactly 20 times prior to Saturday's meeting and it has been a dead even affair thus far. The two programs sit at 9-9-2 in the all-time series but this year playoff seeding is on the line. Stetson won the inaugural game back on Oct. 5, 2006 with a 1-0 victory in Nashville. As of late, however, the Bisons have had the upper hand, winning the last two meetings including a 1-2 loss for the Hatters at home last season. When playing in Tennessee, the Hatters trail 4-5-1 but from the comfort of home, they lead 4-3-1.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (5-4-4, 2-1-2 ASUN)
The Stetson Men's Soccer team finds itself in a competitive position this season. Currently, they hold the fourth spot in the conference standings with a season record of 5-5-4. In ASUN play, they've posted a 2-1-2 record, accumulating 8 points, which puts them in a tie for second place alongside FGCU and Bellarmine, who they'll face off against in the upcoming week.
Their home record has been a source of strength, standing at 4-2-2 for the season. However, they faced a closely contested match against USF, ultimately falling in a 2-3 loss. Despite the setback, there were notable performances from key players. Luis Lara and Andres Mata both found the back of the net early in the match, with assists from Alvaro Gabancho and Alessandro Gabbani. Lara's scoring streak now spans four consecutive games, the longest streak since Fredrik Brustad in the 2008 season, with five goals and an assist to his name during that range. Lara leads the team with nine goals (the third most in the ASUN) and 20 points, along with two assists, while Mata closely follows with six goals and an assist for a total of 13 points. Their shots on goal, 13 and 12 respectively, reflect their offensive aggression, especially considering Stetson's second-most attempted shots in the conference, with 208 shots.
The team's scoring depth is evident with eight other Hatters contributing goals this season, including Xavi Csato and Gabriel Toro, who have each tallied two. Play-making is a significant strength, with 11 different players recording assists. Afonso Conde leads the team in assists with 4, while four others have three assists to their name. Stetson ranks second in the conference in both goals scored and assists, totaling 26 goals and 23 assists for a combined 75 points. Their average of 1.86 goals per game and their ability to strike first in eight out of 14 games highlight their offensive proficiency.
Defensively, the Hatters have allowed 24 goals, which is the fifth-fewest in the ASUN and they've secured four shutouts this season. Notable players like Gabancho, Giuseppe Croce, and Ross Appolon all logged 90 minutes of action in the loss to USF, with Appolon's impressive goal-line clearance to save a goal being particularly notable.
In goal, goalkeeper Nicolo Radaelli has been a reliable presence, making 13 starts for Stetson and facing 135 shots, with 41 saves, the second-most in the conference. The team's overall strength is further reinforced by their recognition in the form of ASUN Player of the Week awards, with Lara, Gabancho, Appolon, and Radaelli all earning these honors.
Additionally, the recognition from Top Drawer Soccer underscores the individual talent within the team. Csato secured the #89 spot on the Top 100 freshman list, while Lara earned the #86 rank on the Top 100 players list.
SCOUTING THE BISONS (7-2-4, 5-0-0 ASUN)
Entering the season as back-to-back conference champions, Lipscomb is showcasing another impressive season, with a season record of 7-2-4 and a perfect 5-0 record in conference play. At this stage, they have established themselves as a dominant force in the league, living up to their preseason favorite status in the 2023 Coaches Poll.
The team's offensive prowess is unmistakable, leading the conference with 35 goals, averaging 2.69 goals per game. They have also been prolific in corner kicks, second only to Stetson with 82 to their name. Lipscomb's relentless offense is reflected in their 219 shots, with 92 of them on target. What sets them apart is their ability to strike first in games, managing to do so nine times out of their 35 goals, which includes seven game-winners and seven game-tying goals, all ASUN-highs. Their dominance extends to assists as well, leading the conference with 38.
Key players like Tyrese Spicer have been phenomenal, averaging a goal per game with 12 goals for the season. Javanne Smith and Malachi Jones also crack the top ten, with five goals each. Spicer has also contributed three assists, accumulating 27 points on the season. Ploutarchos Alonefti and Jones have been instrumental in the team's success with 10 and 8 assists respectively, ranking first and second in the conference.
Defensively, Lipscomb has allowed 26 goals, which is the third-highest in the conference. Juan Carlos Rodriguez has started 12 games in goal, facing 146 shots and making 37 saves. However, it was redshirt freshman Harrison Gough who recently stepped up in the net, facing 11 shots and making 4 saves in a 1-1 draw against Mercer last time out.
Charles Morrow enters his 19th season in 2023-24 as head coach of the Lipscomb Bisons after taking over the program in 2005.
Since taking over the Lipscomb program in 2005, Morrow has been named ASUN Coach of the Year three times (2013, 2018, 2022), won four ASUN Tournaments (2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022) and led the Bisons to the first four NCAA Tournament appearances in program history (2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022), including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2018. Morrow led Lipscomb to the national stage once again in 2022 when the team finished the regular season No. 7 in RPI and No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll. The 2022 team earned the No. 9 overall national seed in the NCAA Tournament and hosted a second round NCAA Tournament game after earning a first round bye.
POSTSEASON
Stetson will clinch a spot in the ASUN Playoffs on Saturday with a win over Lipscomb or if Queens draws or loses to UNF.
NEXT UP
The Hatters will play their game of the 2023 regular season as they head to Louisville, Kentucky to take on the Bellarmine Knights at 7:00 PM on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium
