LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Sean Hoffstatter's first goal of the season came in the 76th minute and tied things up in the University of West Florida men's soccer team's Gulf South Conference opener on Friday night. Unfortunately for the Argonauts, three-time reigning league champions West Alabama took a 2-1 win at home in overtime.
 
With the loss, UWF fell to 1-2 on the year but will have an opportunity to even its record on Sunday afternoon in a match at Alabama Huntsville.
 
The first 20 minutes of the matched were almost perfectly equal, with West Florida taking one shot, West Alabama taking two, and neither team gaining much advantage on either end of the pitch. But the 21st minute proved fruitful for UWA, as the Tigers got a goal from Ali Brador to take the 1-0 lead.
 
West Alabama gained momentum from there, taking three more shots – two of which were on target – in the next nine minutes, but UWF would not go away easily.
 
In what is growing into the toughest rivalry in the GSC, the West Florida backline held strong against a tough UWA attack, allowing just two shots in the last 15 minutes of the half. The Argos looked to have a great opportunity near the end of the first 45, but luck went the other way and West Florida was called offside.
 
The halftime break provided a momentum shift back toward the Argonauts, and UWF took five shots in the second half before UWA took one, which came in the 66th minute.
 
Hoffstatter came onto the pitch in the 58th minute, getting an extra 13 minutes of rest before finding a long connection on a punt from UWF keeper Jacob Murray, and Hoffstatter converted the goal to tie things up in the 76th minute.
 
The final 14 minutes of regulation were all defense, with neither team mounting much attack, but UWA's Jamie Cox found the net just 50 seconds into overtime to give his Tigers the 2-1 win at home.
 
Hoffstatter, Rafael Godoi, Erick Rivera and Isaiah Lopez each had one of UWF's four shots on goal in the match.
 
West Florida kicks off at 3:30 pm at Alabama Huntsville on Sunday.