MOBILE, Ala. – The 20^th-ranked Spring Hill College (SHC) men's soccer team arrived at its 2019 season and home opener on Library Field with something to prove. The Badgers wanted to make a statement that their 2018 Gulf South Conference championship was not a one-time fluke, but the beginning of a new era in SHC soccer. As a result, the Badgers came out with a chip on their shoulders and pounded out a 4-2 victory over non-conference opponent the Florida Southern College (FSC) Moccasins.
 
Sophomore Diogo Sousa of Estoril, Portugal got things started in a big way for the Badgers by ramming home a goal against the Wolves (0-1) in the 16^th minute while senior Donte Oliver of New Orleans, La., made it 2-0 in the 19^th minute off a nifty pass from freshman Marco Passera of Haugesund, Norway.
 
In the second stanza, the lead grew to 3-0 after senior forward Alex Lipinski of Krefeld, Germany, tied former Badger Sean Simpson (2005-08) as the program's all-time leading career goal-scorer with his 33^rd by finding the back of the net in the 54^th minute.
 
FSC cracked the scoreboard with a goal from Julian Jordan-Canosa off an assist from Martin Wall in the 59^th minute, but SHC answered right back with Sousa's second goal of the day via an assist from Lipinski in the 63^rd minute to maintain a 4-1 advantage. The Mocassins would tack on a final goal from Christoph Gums at the 84^th minute mark, but the Badgers successfully ran out the final six minutes for the victory.

Following the match, SHC head coach Steve Wieczorek praised his team's effort. "I am really pleased today with the total team performance and especially our finishing in front of goal," he said. "We have shown steady improvement during the preseason phase and it's exciting to see that take shape in a solid win to start our campaign."

SHC senior keeper Barou Ndaw (1-0) out of St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile went the distance in the win, making seven saves against 10 shots and six corner attempts. Phillip Faderl (0-1) of FSC collected two saves versus 13 shots and one corner by the Badgers.
 
The Badgers (1-0) next face one of their toughest opponents of the season on the road in Palm Beach, Fla., versus the 10^th-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish (1-0) on the PBA Soccer/Lacrosse Field beginning Friday at 7 p.m. (Eastern)