Box Score HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – In front of one of the largest and most energetic crowds in recent memory, the SCAD men's soccer team delivered a statement performance on Saturday night, defeating Webber International 3-0 in their conference opener. The Bees fed off the electric atmosphere from start to finish, controlling possession, creating chances in bunches, and locking down defensively to secure a memorable victory.
From the opening whistle, SCAD dictated the flow of the match. The midfield duo of Leon Grube and Nils Vallotto set the tone by dominating possession, stringing together passes, and pulling the Webber midfield out of shape. With the Bees constantly on the front foot, wingbacks Tim Rothe and German Moreno surged forward to provide width and support in attack, overwhelming Webber's defensive line and giving SCAD multiple avenues to create danger in the final third.
That relentless pressure paid off early. In the 11th minute, forward Mario Goic found space in the box and calmly slotted home the opening goal, sending the home crowd into a roar. Goic continued to cause havoc for the Warriors' back line, and in the 24th minute, he struck again. This time, Michael O'Brien provided the assist, threading a pass into Goic's stride for a composed finish that doubled the Bees' lead.
Goic nearly capped off a first-half hat trick in the 31st minute when his powerful strike rattled the crossbar, coming inches away from making it 3-0. Even without the third goal, SCAD entered halftime in full control, outshooting Webber 8-3 and carrying a commanding 2-0 lead.
The second half began with the same intensity, and it took the Bees less than two minutes to strike again. In the 47th minute, forward Sebastian Gomez pounced on a chance and found the back of the net to extend SCAD's lead to 3-0. The early goal all but sealed the outcome, giving the Bees breathing room and allowing them to manage the game with confidence.
Defensively, SCAD was just as impressive. With captain Daire Russell sidelined, Kimi Husler stepped into the backline seamlessly, pairing with Paul Brophy to shut down Webber's attack. Moreno also played a key role in both defense and transition, making timely challenges while still contributing in the attack. Goalkeeper Noa Sonntag was sharp when called upon, making four saves en route to a clean sheet.
The match grew tense in the later stages as Webber pressed forward in frustration. SCAD, however, kept its composure, even as emotions boiled over. In the 84th minute, Webber's Emanuel Barajas was shown a red card following a second yellow, leaving the Warriors down a man. The Bees calmly saw out the final moments, cheered on by a crowd that stayed energized until the final whistle.
The numbers told the story of SCAD's dominance: a 12-5 advantage in shots, a 3-0 edge in goals, and a near-total grip on possession throughout the match. But perhaps the most memorable part of the night was the atmosphere. The home crowd packed the stands and created an energy that fueled the Bees from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.
With the win, SCAD improves to 2-4-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Webber drops to 3-5-1 (0-1). The Bees will look to carry both their momentum and the home-field energy into the next stretch of their conference schedule.
