DELAND, Fla. — Stetson women's soccer opened ASUN play with a 2-1 victory over West Florida on Thursday night at the Stetson Athletic Training Center. The Hatters built a two-goal advantage and held off a late push from the Argonauts to secure their second consecutive victory and their first conference-opening win since 2023.
Payton Quinones delivered a career performance for the Hatters, scoring once and assisting on Ava McKay's second-half goal to record the first goal-and-assist game of her career. McKay added her third goal of the season and scored for the second consecutive match, while
Clare Boesel made three saves over 90 minutes to help Stetson protect the lead.
The victory came after Stetson spent the nonconference portion of its schedule working through different formations, pressing structures and defensive approaches. Head coach
Jamie Souza said those experiences helped the Hatters make adjustments for their second meeting with West Florida after the teams met earlier this season.
"We made some adjustments from the first game," Souza said. "I think we learned some great lessons from competing against a conference opponent."
The Hatters created the first quality chance of the match when McKay put a shot on frame in the 10th minute, forcing a save from West Florida goalkeeper Karla Guzman-Ortiz.
Stella Comana added a shot wide in the 22nd minute before Quinones broke through at 25:50, giving Stetson a 1-0 lead.
Quinones' goal capped a strong stretch for the Hatters, who continued to battle through a physical opening half. Stetson earned a corner kick late in the period before
Kamryn Wilson sent a shot wide, while West Florida generated several attempts after Quinones' goal. None of the Argonauts' attempts found the frame, allowing the Hatters to carry their one-goal advantage into halftime.
Stetson doubled its lead early in the second half when McKay finished a Quinones assist in the 50th minute. The goal marked McKay's third of the season and her second consecutive match with a goal, giving the Hatters a 2-0 advantage.
From there, Stetson leaned on its defensive work to protect the lead. West Florida finished with 16 shots, including 11 in the second half, but the Hatters consistently forced the Argonauts to work for their opportunities. Boesel made a key save on Lucia Revuelto during a sustained stretch of West Florida pressure, while several other attempts missed the frame.
Souza credited the team's defensive foundation for creating the opportunities to win the match.
"We're really actually focused on the defensive side of the game and being really tough defensively and then figuring out where our attacking pieces best lie on the pitch," Souza said.
West Florida eventually cut the deficit in half when Eva Mowery scored off a Revuelto assist at 79:07. The Argonauts continued to press late, but Stetson absorbed the pressure and protected its 2-1 advantage. Boesel made saves on Olof Thorvaldsdottir and Kaitlyn Herb, while the Hatters defended two late West Florida corner kicks to close out the victory.
Souza praised the collective defensive effort, pointing to the work of the back line and Boesel in helping Stetson maintain its advantage.
"It was all built off of really, really hard work from the back line," Souza said. "Claire making saves, Bianca and Kam I thought done excellent, Hailey, Soph, you know, Vicky and Dibble, they all kind of gritted it out and had a gritty performance and grafted."
The Hatters also continued their recent offensive momentum, scoring multiple goals for the second consecutive match. Souza said the team's ability to turn its early opportunities into goals has helped build confidence throughout the group.
"It took everyone though," Souza said. "We've got a really good attacking front line right now that has seemed to click and build those relationships."
Quinones was a key part of that attack after moving higher up the pitch Thursday. Souza said the adjustment was designed to give Quinones more opportunities to use her one-on-one ability, and the move paid off with a goal and an assist.
"We know Peyton's a very good one-by-one dribbler, so we decided to give her less lines to break through," Souza said. "It's great to see her express herself and dribble and play really confidently."
The victory marked Stetson's first conference-opening win since 2023 and gave the Hatters consecutive matches with at least two goals.
Hatters Top Performers
- Payton Quinones: One goal, one assist, three points
- Ava McKay: One goal, two shots on goal
- Clare Boesel: Three saves, one goal allowed over 90 minutes
Up Next
The Hatters continue their homestand Sunday, Sept. 27, when they host Queens at 1 p.m. at the Athletic Training Center in DeLand, Florida.
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.
