BABSON PARK, Fla. – The Thomas University men's soccer team survived a goal-fest this afternoon defeating Sun Conference rival Webber International 5-4.  The five goals scored today are the most that the Night Hawks have netted in a contest this season while the four goals allowed were the most that the Thomas defense has surrendered in a single contest all season.
 
Just 26 seconds into the match, Webber International struck first taking the 1-0 lead over the Night Hawks.  Sophomore Sam Todd gave the Warriors the early lead when he received a touch from Sean Whalen and then charged down the pitch between two trailing Night Hawk defenders and fired the shot into the net.
 
Ten minutes later, the Night Hawks would equalize the match.  Senior Lyle Gifford worked his way through the right corner of the box and pushed a pass to Juan Figueroa who fired a blast just past the Warrior keeper's outstretched hands.  All knotted at 1-1, Thomas would take the go-ahead 2-1 lead when Severin Abt tapped a free kick just over the head of Webber's keeper Angel Rodriguez and into the net.
 
In the 39th minute, Thomas would go up 3-1 when Abt scored his second goal of the match, sixth of the season.  Gifford tapped a free kick just outside the box to Abt who fired his shot into the upper-left corner of the net.  Just minutes later, the Warriors cut into Thomas' lead when Sam Todd scored his second goal of the contest.  The Night Hawks headed into intermission leading 3-2.
 
Just five minutes into the second half, Webber equalized the match at 3-3 when Driss Baraket sent a rebound into the lower right corner of the net.  Thomas would regain the temporary 4-3 lead with an unassisted strike by Jesper Svall, but the Warriors once again struck back in the 55th minute to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Each team continued to battle into the closing minutes of regulation.  With four minutes remaining in the contest, the Night Hawks would net the game winning goal.  Figueroa lifted a corner kick through the box to Donal Branagan who headed in the clinching goal.
 
With the win, No. 8 Thomas improves to 8-2, 2-1 TSC, on the year while the Warriors drop to 3-3, 1-2 TSC.

The Night Hawks return to action on Saturday, Oct. 3, when they return home to face Sun Conference rival Warner University in the NAIA Network Men's Soccer Game of the Week.  The contest will also serve as TU's Annual Breast Cancer Awareness / Pink Out game.  The broadcast is presented by StretchInternet and can be accessed by clicking here.  First touch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
 
Scoring Summary
00:26 – (Webber) Sam Todd, assisted by Sean Whalen
09:50 – (Thomas) Juan Figueroa, assisted by Lyle Gifford
17:26 – (Thomas) Severin Abt (unassisted)
39:24 – (Thomas) Severin Abt, assisted by Lyle Gifford
41:24 – (Webber) Sam Todd (unassisted)
51:58 – (Webber) Driss Baraket (unassisted)
53:11 – (Thomas) Jesper Svall (unassisted)
55:48 – (Webber) Ivan Bakovic (unassisted)
84:23 – (Thomas) Donal Branagan, assisted by Juan Figueroa
 
By the Numbers
2 – Days until Thomas' next match against Warner University
3 – Yellow Cards awarded to Webber International
8 – Thomas' total of wins in the 2015 season
9 – Number of goals scored by both Webber International and Thomas
15 – Number of shots faced by TU keeper Ben McFarlane-Barnes
30 – Shots taken by both Webber International and Thomas
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by play, and feature stories of your TU men's soccer team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMSocc.