BETHANY, Okla. — Returning to the field after a successful 2021 season, the reigning GAC Champions picked up where they left off, springing into 2022 with an electric 5-0 home-opening win over Southwest Baptist.
Head Coach Trevor Harmon's team did not miss a beat against SBU as the Storm (1-0, 0-0 GAC) had 11 of their 15 shots land on goal that night. The Bearcats (0-1, 0-0 GLVC) faced the pressure of the Storm defense all evening, only getting two of their seven shots to land in range.
The reigning GAC Newcomer Daniel Trojman sprung into action early on, punching one in at the 25 minute marker, assisted by a new addition to the Storm Bruno Ferreira
Esteban Ramirez raised the crowd in the 13th minute, shifting past the Bearcats with a shot that just graised the outside. Trojman's goal would be the last they saw in the fist half and SNU stayed atop 1-0 over the Bearcats.
Just over the 50 minute marker and with an opening in sight, Ferreira and Nathaniel Mederos tip off SBU's keeper, finding Trojman again for a sweet sink in once more, taking the lead to 2-0 over the Bearcats.
The Storm just couldn't stop the offensive onslaught as Harei Maeda wanted a piece of the action. Mederos was feeling generous once more, finding Maeda for the score to take the match to 3-0 with a little over 30 minutes left in the match.
SNU sophomore Orlando Castro had a back-to-back moment late in the second, scoring two goals of his own, courtesy of SNU's newcomers Rinta Takagi and Miguel Torrecillas. After Castro's epic two-for-two showdown, SNU would claim the 5-0 lead with just under seven minutes of play.
The Bearcats couldn't answer in the time remaining, and SNU walked away with the huge 5-0 season opening win over Southwest Baptist.
Castro was a force off the SNU bench, finishing with four shots, three shots on goal, and two goals. Trojman was right their with him, tallying two shots, two shots on goal, and two goals of his own.
Maeda punched the other goal for the Storm and tallied an assist while Nathaniel Maderos finished with two shots, two on goal, and two assists. Ferreira also finished with two assists on the night.
The Storm will be back on Wes Harmon Field Saturday, August 27th where they host Dallas Baptist University at 7:30 PM.
