WINGATE, N.C. - Palm Beach Atlantic men's soccer hit the road to face Wingate, where they defeated the Bulldogs 3-0 at the WU Soccer Complex. The Sailfish's offensive display was highlighted by
Tin Vastic's impressive hat trick, with two of his goals coming in the second half. The defense, supported by five saves from goalkeeper
Flavio Giannini, secured a shutout victory.
The Sailfish took an early lead against Wingate with Vastic scoring in the 12th minute, assisted by
Marian Rutkowski. The match featured aggressive play, with the 'Fish committing several fouls, leading to a yellow card for
Fabio Reck in the 19th minute. Wingate's offensive continued to apply pressure to PBA's defense with multiple shots on goal, but goalkeeper Giannini made key saves. Despite consistent attempts from both sides, including efforts from
Rufus Roth and
Veit Klement for the Sailfish, no further goals were scored in the first half, leaving the 'Fish ahead 1-0 at the break.
Palm Beach Atlantic extended their lead early in the second half with another goal from Vastic in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on the momentum from a corner kick just moments earlier. Vastic struck again in the 64th minute, with an assist from
Niklas Mahler, completing his hat trick and putting the
'Fish ahead 3-0. Wingate's efforts to respond were hindered by a red card issued to Bailey Rhodes in the 75th minute, reducing them to ten men on the field. Despite several attempts on goal and corner kicks by both teams, the match concluded with the Sailfish maintaining their three-goal advantage, supported by multiple crucial saves from Giannini.
Vastic scored three goals for Palm Beach Atl., including the game-winning goal, and recorded a total of four shots, all on target. Giannini contributed significantly in goal with five saves to secure a shutout victory. Rutkowski provided an assist in the match, helping the team maintain offensive pressure. Mahler also added an assist, contributing to the team's overall performance.
The Sailfish remain on the road for a match against Lenoir-Rhyne on Thursday, September 18 in Hickory, N.C. The match is set for a 12:00 p.m. (EST) kickoff.