Hatters Take Season Opener Over Owls

8/20/10

DeLand, Fla. – Here we go again... Stetson's Dynamic Duo struck again as the Hatters defeated Florida Atlantic 4-3 Friday night in the season-opener for both teams. Senior Katie Bitetto (Jacksonville, Fla.) assisted on the game's first goal and scored on another, while senior Tessa Gavilsky (Granite City, Ill.) delivered a pair of assists and scored the game-winning goal with just under six minutes remaining in regulation play.

Last season Gavilsky was voted as the back-to-back Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and led the league in scoring for the second consecutive season. Bitetto was tops in the A-Sun with 11 assists and 5th in scoring with a career-high 21 points. She finished 12th in the nation with 0.55 assists per game.

"It was exciting to listen to the starting lineups and hear all the seniors and juniors announced. The reason we are able to be successful is because this group has been through some tough learning experiences together", said Stetson head coach Julie Orlowski.

Stetson jumped out to an early lead in the 14th minute when Alexis Hermosa (Orlando, Fla.) took advantage of a Bitetto pass to the top of the box and delivered the team's first goal of the season and the second of her career. In Hermosa's third season with the Hatters Coach Orlowski was finally able to move the junior defender to the midfield to take advantage of her offensive skills and it paid dividends immediately.

Six minutes later Gavilsky picked up her first assist when she blasted a shot that deflected off FAU goalkeeper Ashley Lantes (Clermont, Fla.) and right to junior Courtney Jenista (Pensacola, Fla.) who tapped it home for her 4th career goal. Then in the 39th minute Gavilsky slipped a pass through to Bitetto who finished for her first goal of the season and gave the home team a 3-0 advantage.

FAU answered with a goal by Marisa Russo (Trinity, Fla.) just before halftime and then reduced the deficit to one after a very impressive cross by Russo found Alexandra Major (Boca Raton, Fla.) on the far post. Russo one-timed it to Brittney Nash (Desoto, TX) who found the back of the net. Just three minutes later Allyson Buerosse (Lighthouse Point, Fla.) took advantage of her team's new-found momentum and tied the game with a long shot that slipped past Stetson keeper Andrea Garavaglia (Webster Groves, Mo.) and evened the score.

For the next 20 minutes the teams battled back and forth until a pair of Granite City, Illinois natives sent the Hatters home with a win. Sophomore Kassandra Hartwick delivered a through ball up the middle that deflected off an Owl defender and to the feet of Gavilsky who turned and one-timed it past the keeper.


"After losing the lead this team had every excuse to fold but did not", said Orlowski. "It was great to see Tessa come through at the end and score. She worked extremely hard out there. If opponents give her an inch, she will score."

"Tator [Bitetto] did well tonight, she absorbed a lot of pressure and she is our driving force. Kristen Higel showed her heart and experience in the back. And, I was very pleased with freshmen Ciarra Britt and Alyssa Welsh who started for us in their first collegiate game and showed no nerves", added Orlowski.

Next up the Hatters will host the University of Miami on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Stetson Soccer complex. It will be Jimmy Buffet Day and all students are encouraged to attend in their Island clothes and cheer on the home team.