Score: No. 3 Keiser 12, No. 5 Cumberlands 9
Records: No. 3 Keiser (1-0), No. 5 Cumberlands (1-1)
Location: Keiser Multi-Purpose Field, West Palm Beach, Fla.
No. 3 Keiser University started their 2021 campaign with a 12-9 victory against No. 5 Cumberlands on Sunday afternoon. The Seahawks made their return after being the final sporting event to occur in 2020 before the COVID-19 shutdown on March 12.
Keiser 5, Cumberlands 1
John Senior started the season with an unassisted goal in the third minute.
Hunter East doubled the advantage, scoring an unassisted goal with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Cumberlands got on the board for the first time at the 7:40 mark.
The Seahawks ran off the final three goals of the quarter to lead to the Patriots, 5-1.
Dylan Sharpe paced KU in the quarter with a goal and an assist.
Keiser 9, Cumberlands 3
CU netted back-to-back goals to open the second quarter, trimming their deficit to 5-3 with 10:35 showing.
An unassisted tally Weston Waerness snapped the drought for KU as the margin stood at 6-3 in favor of the home team with 5:12 to go until halftime.
Keiser turned the jets on before halftime, scoring three goals in the final 2:07 of the half to lead, 9-3. Senior had two goals and Cole Stassi had the other.
Keiser 10, Cumberlands 7
Cumberlands notched the first goal of the second half at the 13:25 mark.
Three minutes later, Waerness tallied the lone goal of the period for the Seahawks.
The Patriots collected the final three goals of the frame to trail, 10-7.
Keiser 12, Cumberlands 9
Senior and Stassi found the back of the net with back-to-back goals, upping the advantage to 12-7 with 8:54 remaining in the contest.
Cumberlands ran off the next two goals to make it a three-goal contest with 3:12 left in the season opener.
The Seahawks saw the game off to remain unbeaten in home openers, winning 12-9 against No. 5 Cumberlands.
2: The all-time series now favors Keiser, 2-1.
4: The Seahawks improved to 4-1 in season openers.
5: Keiser is unbeaten in home openers, winning all five contests.
6: The Seahawks had six different scorers on the afternoon, led by four from Senior.
9/24: Cam Provines picked up a game-best nine ground ball and went 18-of-24 in the faceoff circle.
12: Keiser moved back to .500 against NAIA Top 10 teams.
15: Cole George made 15 saves in his Keiser debut.
Keiser
Points: Senior (4)
Goals: Senior (4)
Assists: Waerness/Sharpe (1)
Faceoffs: Provines (18-24)
Ground Balls: Provines (9)
Caused Turnovers: Four Tied (1)
Saves: George (15)