DeLAND, Fla. — The Stetson Hatters opens ASUN Conference play on Saturday night, traveling to Fort Myers for a 7 p.m. matchup against the FGCU Eagles at Pickering Field at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
The Hatters (3-4-0) enter the contest riding momentum from a perfect 2-0 week, which included a 2-1 road win at George Washington — their first away victory of the season — followed by a dominant 6-2 result over Warner at home. After senior forward Andres Freire carried the scoring load early in the year, Stetson's attack found new contributors, as six different Hatters found the back of the net over the two-match stretch. Israel Daniels and Zsombor Pall each struck twice against Warner, while Andres Mata, Andre Casas, Adam Elkhamissy, and Benjamin Donato all tallied their first goals of 2025, the latter providing the game-winner against George Washington in the 70th minute.
Between the posts, graduate goalkeeper Nicolò Radaelli and senior Maxwell Bennett each earned wins last week. Radaelli anchored the Hatters in the midweek victory, while Bennett collected his first career start on Saturday, making two saves to secure the result.
Stetson holds a 7-10-3 all-time record against the Eagles and will meet them twice this season. The Hatters went unbeaten in league play last fall (3-0-4) and picked up a 2-0 win over FGCU in DeLand, though the Eagles have taken the last two matchups in Fort Myers.
FGCU (4-3-2) enters Saturday's tilt following a 1-1 draw with Gardner-Webb earlier this week. Graduate midfielder Caio Oliveira leads the Eagles' offense with 12 points, fueled by a team-high five goals and two assists. Graduate forward Edson Murguia (3g, 2a) and graduate defender Ignatius Demark (2g, 1a) add to the scoring threats. In goal, sophomore Oliver Weng has started seven matches, posting two clean sheets while making 36 saves on 108 shots faced.
Saturday's match will be streamed live on ESPN+, with live stats available at GoHatters.com.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
