MESA, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert men's soccer team (1-0-0) started the 2025 regular season strong with a convincing 8-1 victory over the Justice University Lions (0-1-0), Friday evening at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
Much like the first game of this men's and women's doubleheader, the Buccaneers never let up in the second half of play. Not only was this the most goals ever scored in a regular season opener for Park-Gilbert, but it was also the largest margin of victory recorded in program history for a season opener.
Eight different Park-Gilbert players found the back of the net in Friday evening's contest, including two transfers making their Buccaneer debut: sophomore forward Caden Dosmann and junior forward Monty Almaliky.
The first goal of the night for Park-Gilbert came from senior midfielder Ryan Lea in the eighth minute. Right before the halftime break, Justice tied things up at one with a goal from Abraham Pena.
In the final 45 minutes of play, the Buccaneers racked up seven unanswered goals to secure this dominant victory. Three minutes into the second half, junior forward Ilan Rodriguez-Roda found the back of the net for his first goal in 2025. Dosmann and Almaliky then scored their first goals while wearing the maroon and gold, in the 49th and 53rd minutes respectively. In the 61st minute senior Havard Brynie, last year's all-conference forward, netted his first goal of the 2025 season. The final three goals of the match came in the final 20 minutes of action, courtesy of junior forward Hudson Deutsch, junior forward Konstantinos Hinteregger, and senior midfielder Luis Martinez.
In net for the Bucs Friday evening was Nicklas Lagesen, who recorded one save in the first half and two in the second. The Buccaneers outshot the Lions 35 to 6.
Park-Gilbert, after taking its first season-opening win in three years, will return to the pitch next Friday, Aug. 29 at 7:00 p.m. MST. They hit the road for Pasadena, Calif., as they take on the Caltech Beavers in their regular season opener.Â
