ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Friday night, the University of West Alabama men's soccer team kicked off the 2024 season with a 2-0 win over Eckerd College at Johnson Field.

The Tigers struck early and never looked back, securing a shutout victory.

West Alabama wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as David Nunez found the back of the net just 43 seconds into the match for his first goal of the season. The Tigers maintained their momentum, and only four minutes later, Aiden Riley doubled the lead with a goal in the fifth minute, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

The Tigers' goalkeeper, Timon Dressel, led a strong defense despite Eckerd outshooting them 19-8. Williamson recorded an impressive ten saves, staving off several attempts by Eckerd to close the gap, including a second-half push where the Tritons registered 11 shots.

Both teams remained disciplined on corner kicks, with each side taking four throughout the match. The game became increasingly physical, with 22 fouls split between both teams. As frustrations mounted, Eckerd received four yellow cards, including one late in the 87th minute.

The win brings West Alabama to 1-0 on the season, while Eckerd drops to 0-1. The Tigers will look to keep their momentum going as they travel to Lakeland, Florida, to take on Florida Southern on Sunday, September 8th. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.