SARASOTA, Fla. —The SCAD men's soccer team continued its strong conference form with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over New College of Florida on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Bees improved to 5-4-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while New College dropped to 9-2-1 overall and 2-2 in league action.
The contest featured two organized defensive units and a midfield battle that kept both sides on edge throughout the afternoon. SCAD's composure and discipline ultimately made the difference, with senior forward Mario Goic delivering the game-winning goal in the 65th minute—his ninth of the season—to secure the result.
The opening 45 minutes showcased evenly matched possession and a defensive focus from both teams. New College came out aggressively, nearly taking an early lead in the second minute when Jose Gutierrez's shot struck the post. SCAD goalkeeper Noa Sonntag was tested multiple times early, producing key stops against Pablo Herrera and Martin Pascual to keep the score level.
The Bees began to find their rhythm midway through the half, earning corner opportunities through sustained possession. Shots from Leon Grube, Michael O'Brien, and Nils Vallotto forced the New College defense to stay compact, while a well-placed header from Daire Russell in the 43rd minute required a sharp save from goalkeeper Mathis Leveque. Despite promising build-up play, neither side found the back of the net before halftime, entering the break deadlocked at 0–0.
The pace intensified in the second half as both sides traded opportunities. Sonntag continued to anchor the SCAD defense, turning away dangerous chances from Ducamel Jeannestin and Cameron Johnson in quick succession. His alert reactions and confident handling helped the Bees weather an 11-shot half from the hosts.
SCAD capitalized on its resilience in the 65th minute when Goic broke the deadlock. The forward seized on an opportunity near the box and slotted the ball home for his ninth goal of the season, giving the Bees a 1–0 advantage. From that point, SCAD shifted into a compact, counter-oriented setup to protect the lead.
New College pressed forward with urgency, but Sonntag remained unbeatable. He finished the afternoon with eight saves, earning his fifth shutout of the season. The Bees' backline—led by German Moreno, Kimi Husler, and Daire Russell—held firm through a series of late corners and crosses as time wound down.
SCAD recorded 11 total shots with six on target, while New College produced 16 attempts and forced eight saves. The Bees committed just five fouls compared to New College's 11, maintaining composure despite the physical tone of the match. Four NCF players were shown yellow cards as SCAD controlled the tempo late.
Goic led all SCAD attackers with three shots and two on frame, while Sonntag's commanding goalkeeping performance proved decisive in preserving the clean sheet.
The Bees will look to extend their unbeaten conference streak when they return home next week to host another league matchup at the SCAD Athletics Complex. With momentum building and confidence high, SCAD remains in prime position heading into the final stretch of regular-season play.
