MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) men's soccer team opened the 2017 season on Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 2-1 home loss to the Flagler College Saints at Library Field.
 
The Saints (1-0) grabbed the lead in the 24^th minute when Henrique Salomao found the back of the net with a chip over Badger sophomore goalkeeper Geraldo Bina (0-1) of Paris, France, from 15 years out on the left side.
 
SHC answered back in the 41^st minute with a game-tying goal from sophomore Alexander Lipinski from Krefeld, Germany, who beat the Flager goalkeeper one-on-one with a finish to the high post. Lipinski's tally was set up by a nifty entry up the middle from Morgan Gauthier of Paris, France.
 
In the 54^th minute, Salomao struck again for the visitors from St. Augustine, Fla., with a go-ahead goal scored by beating a final SHC defender and finding the inside of the far post after accepting a leading pass from Rostand Ndong.
 
The final 35 minutes of play saw the teams turn up their physical presence with both teams earning two yellow warning cards in the final three minutes. In total, Flagler was issued four yellow cards with 12 fouls and SHC accepted two warnings with 17 fouls.
 
"It was an exciting game," said SHC head coach Steve Wieczorek following the match. "We created enough chances to win, but full credit to Flagler for doing what was necessary to get the job done."
 
Bina took the loss in his first collegiate start after making three saves against nine shots and four corner kicks by the Saints while Mel Broughton (1-0) took home the victory with six saves against a barrage of 17 shots and 16 corner attempts by the Badgers.
 
The Badgers (0-1) will next host the 8^th-ranked University of Tampa Spartans on Sunday at Library Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.