DELAND, Fla. - The Stetson University men's soccer team clashed with the visiting Florida Atlantic Owls at the Athletic Training Center on Tuesday night. The final score saw the Hatters emerging victorious with a thrilling 4-3 win in an intense and emotionally charged match. Luis Lara was today's hero, scoring the game-winning goal towards the end of the 88th minute for his first multi-score game of the season.

The action-packed game unfolded with the Hatters drawing first blood. Andres Mata, who was the hero of Saturday's victory over North Florida, netted his fourth goal of the season thanks to a assist from Gabriel Toro. This early strike set the tone for what would be a gripping contest.

Stetson continued to press, and just 12 minutes later, Lara extended the lead to 2-0, scoring his first goal of the game with an assist from Charles Ahl. The Hatters were in control, but the Owls weren't going down without a fight. Shortly before halftime, a yellow card in the box led to a penalty kick for FAU, which they successfully converted, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

The first half showcased the Hatters' normal offensive capability, outshooting the Owls 9-8, with Lara leading the charge with three shots, two of which were on target. Toro and Mata also contributed a pair of shots to the first-half tally.

The second half was nothing short of a rollercoaster. The Owls came back strong, managing to level the score at 2-2 just five minutes into the half. In the 60th minute, FAU took a surprising 3-2 lead, erasing the Hatters' initial 2-0 advantage.

However, the Hatters displayed resilience and determination. In the 71st minute, Andres Rodriguez was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick for Stetson. Alessandro Gabbani stepped up to take the crucial shot and buried it, equalizing the score at 3-3.

As the clock ticked down and tensions ran high, Lara answered the call by scoring the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. He pounced on a rebound from Gabbani's initial effort, sending the ball into the middle of the box. This goal not only secured the victory but also marked the first time this season that a Hatter had scored multiple goals in a single game. With his stellar performance, Lara now shares the team's leading position with Mata, who also scored in the contest, each boasting 9 points and 4 goals.

Lara was undoubtedly the standout player of the night, with four shots and two goals, while Gabbani, Toro, and Mata each attempted three shots. Stetson narrowly edged out the Owls in total shots, with a count of 17-15, although FAU attempted more corner kicks, 6-3.

In goal, sophomore goalkeeper Nicolo Radaelli, who had been awarded ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week the prior week, faced seven shots on goal, making four crucial saves to help secure the win, including a clutch stop in the bottom right corne of the net in the 86th minute.

With this thrilling victory, the Stetson Hatters now hold a record of 4-2-2. They will briefly hit the road for one game before returning to conference play against Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday, September 23, at 7:00 PM.




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.

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