Austin, TX - As the sun set on the hilltop and the new lights around the pitch turned on, the stage was perfectly set for the men's soccer team to cement a 3-0 win over Delta State University during the program's first official night game. A year ago, the two teams had another season opener matchup that came to a much different result, but the Hilltoppers' improvements and commitment were made clear during last night's game.
 
"This preseason we've been able to score quite a few goals, and that's just the quality of our attacking six, I think it's much improved from last season," head coach Brian Young said prior to the game. "Our back fours remain the same, so I feel like we haven't done anything different other than just gotten better. Hopefully, we can get after Delta State early." 
 
The Hilltoppers kicked off the game with communication across passes and pressure over the Statesmen defense. At the 13-minute mark, midfielder Shunji Watanabe was able to capitalize early with an assist from freshman forward Nemanja Pavicevic. The early goal set the tone for the rest of the half, when the Hilltoppers dominated the attacking field and shot 13 times on goal. 
 
Every man on the pitch kept the momentum going, with Ebuka Bright-Osigwe, Izaiah Garza, and Armando DonJuan leading many of the efforts up the pitch. On the back side, Nico Weigandt, Irvin Abarca and Timmy Hollenbeck helped goalkeeper Angel Ramirez protect the box and avoid any Statesmen presence.
 
"They did an exceptional job, Angel did a great job in goal," Young said.
 
After a yellow card on Delta State's Veborn Oen in the 26th minute, Weigandt shot the ball over the two-man wall, reaching Abarca's foot in a pass inside the box to Filip Adamski, extending the Hilltoppers' lead 2-0. Coming off an injury during his first year, this was the redshirt-freshman's first goal for the program.
 
 "One thing we've been practicing a lot during our trainings is set pieces and making sure we get to the end of everything," Abarca said. "Being able to assist just brings joy to me, honestly, because it means that there's a lot more potential to score more goals off set pieces."
 
Substitutions came for the Hilltoppers in the following minute, with Matthew Devaney coming in for DonJuan and Arthur Souza for Bartek Zabek. Both Devaney and Souza created chances, with Souza shooting on goal shortly after entering the game and Devaney scoring the Hilltoppers' third and final goal at the 36-minute mark. 
 
Shortly before the end of the half, Christian Mezas and Jud Anderson also generated attempts, but were unable to capitalize.
 
The successful offense seen in the first half turned into relentless defense in the second half. The Statesmen came in strong, with a shot on goal by Ajay Stewart, which Ramirez blocked. The Hilltoppers replied several times with shots by Mezas, Watanabe, and Anderson, all unsuccessful. 
 
"I believe we got too comfortable," Abarca said about their performance in the second half. "That's one thing that we told ourselves that we need to improve. It's a mindset thing."
 
Quick transitions and heavy presence with Souza, Anderson, Don Juan, and Mezas in the box weren't enough to extend the Hilltoppers' lead even further. Still, collective efforts on the defensive end kept the Statesmen at bay until the final whistle.
 
 "This game was definitely a perfect start for us," Adamski said. "Coach (Young) was saying that we need to start the season strong so that the other teams know that we'll be strong this year, and that's what we did."
 
Men's soccer returns to the Lewis-Chen Family Field on Saturday at 7 p.m., this time hosting Mississippi College.