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Stewart Records First Hat-Trick against NJCAA Team for Falcons

Stewart Records First Hat-Trick against NJCAA Team for Falcons
September 24, 2018

The Daytona State Men's Soccer Team traveled to Cuthbert, Georgia this past weekend to face NJCAA opponent Andrew College for the second time this season. When the Falcons and Fighting Tigers first met at the Daytona State Soccer Complex, the Falcons walked away with 5-0 victory. This match ended with almost the same result, with the Falcons winning 6-1. Sophomore and team captain Shevon Stewart is to thank for getting half of those goals.

"Shevon took the game into his own hands," says head coach Bart Sasnett. "When he turns it on he can make the game look so easy."

And Stewart did just that. Shevon Stewart recorded the first hat-trick against an NJCAA opponent for Daytona State in its 3 seasons. Stewart scored his first goal in the 5th minute of the match, cutting through the entire defense and blasting a shot into the upper 90. With two minutes left until halftime, Stewart picked up his next two goals, both times beating numerous Fighting Tiger defenders and sending the Falcons into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

Stewart wasn't done just yet. Five minutes into the 2nd half, freshman Fabian Grant gets on the board with an assist from Stewart. This put Stewart with 3 goals and 1 assist on the game. The Fighting Tigers were able to get one goal shortly after Grant's goal. Their lone goal came from a penalty kick. Coach Sasnett then put 10 new players onto the field with 25 minutes left.

"It's always good when everyone on the team gets to play," says Sasnett. "We have a lot of depth this year and I am glad we are able to use it."

In the 70th minute, freshman Alex Fuentes beat two defenders and scored, making it his 3rd goal on the season. With 10 minutes left in the match, freshman Karldarvhens Jean Baptiste notched his first collegiate goal with a rocket shot from right outside the 18-yard box. The assist came from freshman Jose Fuentes.

"We came out a little sluggish in the first half with bus legs, but it didn't take us long to find our rhythm," said Sasnett. "The guys are really coming together and playing as a team."

The Falcons travel to Lakeland, FL to face Florida Southern's JV team on the 27th and then turn right around to face Region 8 opponent ASA Miami on the 28th for their first Region 8 home match.