MELBOURNE, Fla. ---The Auburn Montgomery men's soccer team held off a late charge from Florida Southern to knock off the Mocs 2-1 and pick up their first win as full-fledged members of NCAA Division II on Sunday, Sept. 15
 
NOTEWORTHY
- The win improves AUM's 2019 record to 1-3.
- Sunday's victory also marks for the Warhawks first win under Head Coach Matthew Thorne. 
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Lucas Batistela and Renan Diniz both logged their first career goals for AUM in the contest, with Diniz accounting for the game-winner.
- Thomas Carlile and Phillip Spickenbaum both tallied an assist in the win. Carlile added a team-high two shots and one shot on goal, with Spickenbaum also taking a shot in the contest. 
- Berkly Louviere also recorded a shot on goal in the match.
- Alexander Kraus (1-1) picked up a season-high five saves in the victory, while allowing just one goal in 90 minutes of action between the posts. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- For the second-straight contest, the Warhawks were able to tickle the twine within the first ten minutes of the match. Batistela's first goal for the Orange and black came in minute number eight, with help from Carlile, to give AUM an early 1-0 advantage. 
- The Warhawks would go on to double their lead approximately 15 minutes later, this time from Diniz. Spickenbaum was credited with the assist on the 23rd-minute score from Diniz.
- The Mocs would go on to cut AUM's lead in half in minute number 76, however, on a goal from Mason Comer. Edu Capote helped set up the Moc goal.
- Florida Southern would keep applying the pressure over the match's final 10 minutes, but Kraus would stand strong in net for AUM, denying four potential equalizers within the 85th-88th minutes to help preserve the Warhawk's 2-1 lead for the victory. 
 
QUOTING THE COACH
"We're absolutely delighted to get our first win," Coach Thorne said. "The lads put it all on the line again. We started the game off very well, controlled the tempo, and jumped out to a 2-0 lead, which could have been an even bigger lead. It was definitely a game of two halves, though. (Florida) Southern is a quality team and pushed us hard in the second half. It was tight at the end, but the lads stood up to the task. Now we'll recover and go again on Wednesday."
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The Warhawks took eight shots on the afternoon, while the Mocs took 11.
- Four of AUM's eight shots came on frame, while FSC put up six shots on goal.
- The Warhawks took three corner kicks in the match, compared to five for the Mocs.
- AUM was whistled for just eight fouls, while Florida Southern was tagged with 13. 
 
UP NEXT
- The Warhawks will return home for a non-conference tilt against Georgia Southwestern State on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Kickoff from the AUM Soccer Complex is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
 
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