DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A hat trick by Fabian Hilpert propelled the Embry-Riddle men's soccer team to an opening night win against Newberry at the Embry-Riddle Lacrosse Field on Thursday evening. The non-conference match-up survived a field change and heavy rain to get the Eagles off to a 1-0 overall start.
 
The game started aggressively with the first shot coming only three minutes into the half from Hilpert as the Eagles freshman's first attempt went wide and to the left. This didn't discourage him though, and his first goal came in the seventh minute with an assist from Alexander Hasenohrl. The Eagles didn't slow down as Hilpert scored again in the 17^th minute showing strong link up play. Sandro Henning passed the ball onto the feet of Matteo Moreno Madrid who crossed it into the box for Hilpert to finish. At the end of the half the Eagles led 2-0.
 
The Wolves began applying more pressure on the Eagles' in the second half with the first shot going to Newberry's Seraphin Guetan who hooked it left of the goal. However, 11 minutes into the second half freshman Kaden Stoddard got his name on the board with a low header into the bottom right corner of the goal.
 
Once again, the Wolves tried to match the Eagles' pace and aggressiveness, which paid off in the 71st minute with a mistimed block leading to an own goal. The Eagles responded to the mistake with a cross from Sandro Henning to Hilpert whose outstanding freshman debut made the final score for the evening Eagles 4, Wolves 1.
 
The Eagles return on Saturday to Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium to take on Georgia Southwestern at 7 p.m.
 
The 2024 Embry-Riddle men's soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.