LAKELAND, Fla. (October 1, 2021) – The Webber International University men's soccer team traveled to Lakeland, Florida on Wednesday night to battle the Fire of Southeastern University in what was The Sun Conference season-opener for both teams, resulting in a 2-1 defeat for the Warriors in overtime.
 
The Warriors (6-2-1 overall, 0-1-0 SUN) are receiving votes to be ranked in the national top-25, as well as the Fire (7-1-1, 1-0-0).
 
Webber would draw first blood in the match after junior Mateo Fernandez Sassoni would receive a pass through a tight window and slot the ball into the left-hand side of the net to gain the 1-0 lead. The Warriors would hold that lead heading into halftime, having outshot the Fire, 10-8, in the first half.
 
Roughly eight minutes into the second half, Southeastern would level the match after Aitor Granero would curl the ball into the right-hand corner from about 25-yards out. The Fire would have most of the chances in the second half, trying to find a winner but the match would ultimately head to overtime.
 
The Warriors would have the first effort in overtime as a shot from Jay Skelcher-Maxwell would force a save out of the Fire goalkeeper, four minutes into the period. About a minute later, Southeastern would earn a free-kick outside Webber's 18-yard box. A pass would be sent into the box and the ensuing shot from the Fire would deflect off of a defender and find the back of the net to end the match, 2-1.
 
"Very proud of the boys, they fought hard the entire match," spoke Head Men's Soccer Coach Neil Cockburn. "We missed a few big players for us in Rodrigo Flores Iraheta and Prince James. There were several opportunities to kill the game off with a few one-on-ones but it wasn't to be our night."
 
The Warriors will travel next to match up against Crooked Lake rivals, Warner University, in Lake Wales, Florida on Saturday, October 2, at 7 p.m. in another Sun Conference match.