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The defending South Region champions came to Lakeland and for the greater part of Sunday's match, Florida Southern looked like the better side. However, three second-half goals erased an early Moccasin lead as the University of Montevallo first came from behind, then had to hold on for a 3-2 victory.
Florida Southern (1-2) was on the scoreboard just 2:28 into the match when Dan Heaney connected on a shot from the left wing for his first goal of the year. The senior midfielder had slipped in undetected while Patrik Dandanell worked the ball out of the far corner. More concerned with Rocky Gifford in the middle, the Montevallo defense never accounted for Heaney on the back side of the play.
The Moccasins continued to pepper the Montevallo goal throughout the first half, owning a 10-3 advantage in shots by halftime. Several of those were near-misses too. A header by Garrett Gaa after a long throw by Gifford sailed just over the crossbar, and a long free kick by Emil Kumlin was just a step too far for Ashley Holmes to get a quality attempt in the six-yard box. UM goalkeeper David Esser, making his first career start, also saved three other shots.
In the second half, it was Montevallo (1-3) that scored with a little over two minutes gone. Reserve midfielder Nathaniel Foster chipped a ball over the defense to set up Jonathan Maloney. FSC goalkeeper Paul DiPalma came out to the challenge to senior All-American, but could only deflect the shot which rolled into the side of the net on the far side of the goal.
The game remained tied at one until the 63rd minute when Lucas Manzoli headed home a corner kick from Milan Pualic. It was one of 11 corners in the match for Montevallo.
A little over six minutes later, the Falcons scored again when Manzoli served a long ball to the top of the box that was dropping into open space. DiPalma again raced off his line to play it and Foster challenged him. The ball was briefly knocked away but not far enough, and Alex Ghoja was able to send a shot into an open net for a 3-1 Montevallo lead.
That goal proved crucial as Florida Southern reached the scoreboard again in the 77th minute. It too came when the Falcons were unable to clear a ball in the box and Dandanell struck a shot from the top corner that was true and pulled the Mocs within 3-2.
Not even two minutes later the Mocs nearly had an equalizer. Following a corner kick that was successfully cleared, center back Emil Kumlin ripped a long shot from near the center circle that was inches high. The Mocs continued to apply pressure after that, but were unable to come as close as that attempt.
Esser did not have to make a save in the second half for Montevallo, as the Falcons owned a 7-3 edge in shots taken. DiPalma came up big on two occasions and finished with four saves in the match.
Florida Southern will play its next match on Friday afternoon at Thomas University, with kickoff slated for 4:30 p.m.
