DeLAND, Fla. — Daniel Makowem recorded the first hat trick of his Stetson career as the Hatters celebrated Senior Night with a commanding 6-0 victory over Florida Poly on Friday evening at the Stetson Athletic Training Center.
Stetson scored three times in each half, getting goals from four different players while outshooting the Phoenix 19-10 and putting 12 attempts on target. The victory moved the Hatters to 6-7-2 overall and gave them their fourth win in their last five matches.
"It was a special night for the seniors and having Conde start us off," head coach Emmett Rutkowski said. "I'm so proud of this group and excited for their next chapter in life.
"I thought Florida Poly came out with tenacity and energy that we couldn't match early on. I give them a lot of credit as they played with heart. I thought once we got into the game, we started to execute at a much higher rate and was happy with the reaction. It was a special hat trick for Dan and couldn't be happier for him individually as he made a huge impact as soon as he stepped on the field."
One of the five Hatters honored before the match fittingly opened the scoring. Afonso Conde put Stetson in front in the 21st minute, finishing off a feed from fellow senior Daniele Mastroianni for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
The Hatters carried the one-goal advantage deep into the opening half before Makowem took over.
After Florida Poly was whistled for a foul in the box, Makowem stepped to the spot and converted the ensuing penalty in the 41st minute to double the advantage. Just 2:35 later, he struck again, this time off an assist from Mauricio Restrepo, sending Stetson into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Makowem completed the hat trick in the 66th minute. Ryan Avallone and Israel Daniels combined to set up the play, with Makowem finishing for his third goal of the night and Stetson's fourth. The junior needed just three shots to record the hat trick, putting all three on target and converting each opportunity.
The Hatters weren't finished.
Freshman Leo Fraile added another milestone just over four minutes later, scoring the first goal of his collegiate career in the 70th minute to extend the lead to 5-0. Fraile was active throughout his 22 minutes on the field, putting all four of his shots on target.
William Mills capped the scoring in the 87th minute with his third goal of the season, giving Stetson its largest offensive output of the year.
While the offense filled the scoresheet, the Hatters were equally effective at the other end. Murillo Mello turned aside both Florida Poly shots on goal to record his second clean sheet of the season. Stetson limited the Phoenix to four shots in the second half while generating 13 of its own.
Conde's Senior Night goal continued a strong final campaign for the Lisbon, Portugal, native, while Mastroianni added an assist as both contributed to the victory after being honored alongside Ross Appolon, Zsombor Pall and Maurice Hauser prior to kickoff.
Makowem finished with a career-high six points on three goals, while Mastroianni, Restrepo, Avallone and Daniels each recorded an assist. Fraile led the Hatters with four shots, all on target, while Hauser added three attempts and put two on frame.
The six-goal performance continued a torrid offensive stretch for Stetson. The Hatters have now scored 19 goals over their last five matches, including four against Lipscomb, four against South Florida, three against Jacksonville, two against Florida Atlantic and six Friday night.
Stetson will now turn its attention back to ASUN play, traveling to Fort Myers to face FGCU on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at Pickering Field
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.
