Box Score Babson Park, FL. –The Webber International Men's Soccer team opened its season at home hosting the Fort Lauderdale Eagles. After a late goal in the second half, the Warriors came out victorious 2-1.
In the first half, Webber had numerous opportunities to take the lead early. Their first scoring chance came at the 11-minute mark when they had a corner kick taken by #16 Samer Jawhari. Jawhari's kick made it to the left of Joden Gallardo, but his show was saved by Andy Otero the Fort Lauderdale goalie. 2 minutes later Jawhari got his first chance at goal with a shot that went just wide. Jawhari got another opportunity less than 10 minutes later but the shot was deflected by a Fort Lauderdale defender and missed high glancing off the crossbar in the 23rd minute. The Warriors would get a corner kick off the subsequent play and follow that up with 2 more shots by #99 Gabe Shelton, which went wide, and a shot by #15 Emanuel Barajas which was saved by Otero for his second save of the half.
Webber finally broke the scoreless tie off a corner kick from Jawhari to #2 Eduardo Rivera for his first goal of the season and career for the first-year freshman. However, their lead was short-lived, as Ft. Lauderdale answered back with a goal of their own by #4 Nicolas Massa to even the score at 1-1 entering halftime.
Entering the second half of play, it was Warrior dominated in both play and possession as they posted 8 shots compared to only 1 for Fort Lauderdale. Jawhari had the first shot of the half in the 53rd minute but shot by wide just past the post. The game stayed level for the majority of the second half until a big moment shift came to Webber's favor when Fort Lauderdale's Jose Rodriguez committed a foul and was shown a red card by the head referee, giving Webber an 11-10 player advantage for the rest of the half. They had shots in the 77th and 78th minute but were both saved by the keeper Otero. The Warriors were able to find the back of the net off a beautiful cross from #13 Nik Resnik which connected with Shelton for the volley into the side of the net. The Warriors controlled the rest of the game with shots from Jawhari, Isek Boasson, and Ruben Marquez, but that goal alone would be all Webber needed to finish off the Eagles, as the Warriors held on to win the game 2-1. The Warriors outshot the Eagles 21-2 and were in total possession of the ball all game. The win marks the first for Head Coach Philip Bohn and the Warriors have now won their first game of the season for the 7th year in a row.
The Warriors return to action on Thursday, August 31st in Hialeah, Florida to take on Florida National at 12:00 P.M.
