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Shaka Bangura scored three goals and assisted one other to lead Montreat (NC) to a 4-1 win over Florida Southern in the Moccasins' 2008 opener.
The Mocs were originally scheduled to begin the season two nights earlier against the University of Indianapolis, but had that match cancelled due to severe weather. There was more rain before Saturday's match, but a muddy field didn't slow down Bangura, the 2007 player-of-the-year in Appalachian Athletic Conference. The junior scored the Cavaliers' first two goals of the night, then assisted his brother Adnan's goal in the 64th minute that blew the game open. Shaka would complete his hat trick in the 72nd minute to give Montreat (2-1) a 4-0 lead.
Florida Southern got on the board with 9:57 remaining when Givi Kokaia took a cross from Dennie Townsend and fired off a shot in the middle of box. Goalkeeper Howard Fisher deflected the ball, but it rolled into the right side of the net for the goal.
Despite the 4-1 score, the shot totals were nearly equal. The Cavaliers held a 15-14 advantage, with the Mocs picking up 11 in the second half.
Montreat out-shot Florida Southern 7-3 in the first half, but could score only once. That came in the 34th minute when Shaka Bangura scored his first goal of the night on a break-away down the middle of the field.
Montreat had the first strong chance of the second half when Nyron Edwards got off a strong shot in the opening minutes, but FSC goalkeeper Paul DiPalma made a diving save to thwart the attempt. However, it was only a few minutes later when Shaka Bangura took a pass from brother Adnan off the left wing and gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 lead with 34 minutes to play. That turned out to be the game-winner.
Florida Southern will play again on Friday night, September 5 when it hosts Alabama-Huntsville at 7:30 p.m.
