The No. 6 Colorado College men's soccer team opened the 2024 season with an 8-0 route of Fontbonne University under the lights of Stewart Field on Friday. It's the first eight-goal game for CC since Oct. 31 against Centenary.
Six players found the back of the net as Freshman
Teddy Opler and senior Vincent Lugio led the team with two goals a piece. CC racked up 37 shots, including 18 shots on net.
Opler made his mark in his collegiate debut; the former Gatorade Wyoming Player of the Year finished the game playing only 21 minutes on the pitch but made an immediate impact in his first appearance.
Alexander Ward initiated the scoring of the Tigers in the 31st minute with an unassisted goal. Ward now has 21 goals in his CC tenure. The senior followed it up with an assist to Opler in the 36th minute to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Opler scored his second just two minutes later in the 38th minute, lining a missile down into the back of the net.
CC went into the halftime break with a 3-0 lead. The Tigers dished out 16 shots in the first 45' while holding the Griffins to only one shot.
Alex Meyerhoff led the way with four first-half shots.
In the second, The Tigers kept the foot on the gas as the 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year,
Jack Hilliard, slipped past the opposing defenders and lined a beautiful shot in the 49th minute to give CC a 4-0 lead. Hilliard collected four goals in 2023.
Linggi added his own in the 59th minute with an unassisted goal to make it 5-0.
Vincent Lugio entered the match and got his lick. The senior scored his third career two-goal game and first since 2021. Luglio's first came in the 78th minute on an unassisted goal. His second came in the 87th minute to put the game away.
Before Luglio's second goal,
Luke Stefanski scored his first collegiate goal in the 83rd minute on what looked like a missile off the junior's foot.
Linggi topped the stat sheet with five shots and finished the game with two shots on goal.
Friday is the first season-opening win for the Tigers since the 2021 season when CC knocked off No. 25 Gustavus Adolphus en route to an 11-win season.
CC plays its second game of the weekend on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. MT against Concordia College-Moorhead. The Cobbers collected a 2-0 win over another SCAC opponent, Austin College, earlier on Thursday.
Fontbonne will play Austin College on Sunday.
