LAKELAND, Fla. - Sophomore
Darcy Moffat made his Florida Southern College debut for the men's soccer team a memorable one leading the Moccasins to a 3-1 victory over the visiting University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers on Friday evening.
The Mocs (1-0, 0-0 SSC) were up 3-0 at the half and a weather delay would force a two-hour delay not allowing action to start back up again until after 10 p.m. With some fatigue settling in, the Chargers (0-1, 0-0 GSC) took the momentum in the second half scoring to close the gap to 3-1. The early lead secured the 400th program win for FSC and opened up the season with a win.
Florida Southern started hot and aggressively with a shot just left from sophomore
Matthew Male within the first five minutes on the pitch. UAH had four consecutive opportunities but freshman
Joe O'Shaughnessy's first collegiate save kept the Chargers off the board. The game was scoreless until a handball in the box took Moffat up for a penalty kick. With just Moffat and the Chargers keeper Sonny Wright, the forward shot left to sink the shot into the bottom left of the goal as Wright went right to put the Mocs on top 1-0 with 23 minutes remaining in the half.
A quick Moccasin sub to reset after the goal, Moffat kicked off and a few dribbles shot at the Chargers goal and found his second goal of the night. The London, England native earned his second career goal in an FSC uniform to put the Mocs up 2-0 less than 30 seconds from his previous goal.
FSC continued to control the majority of the first half and went into halftime with a goal from senior
Sander Trevor who was assisted by both senior
Felix Tonne and freshman
Sonny Albert after getting around two Charger defenders.
The second half was scrappier than the first as three yellow cards and a red set the tone for both teams. In the 54th minute, UAH broke their silence with a header from Charlie Garrison to cut the lead down to two goals.
Both the teams' pressure continued throughout the remainder of the game playing through the wet and soggy grass. However, neither team was able to score again as the Mocs earned the first win of the 2024 season on Berend Field.
In goal, O'shaughnessy made his debut collecting three saves as Moffat led the Mocs in his debut with four shots, three on goal, and two goals in 53 minutes of action. Both teams totaled 12 shots on the night and three saves and had a one foul difference with the Chargers having 19 and Mocs 18.
Florida Southern returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 8 as they host West Alabama in an early afternoon game. The kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
