ST. PETERSBURG – Tristan Bassette netted the game-winning goal in the 70th minute as the Eckerd men's soccer team edged Rollins by a score of 3-2 on Saturday evening at Johnson Field.

Eckerd struck early when Sebastian Schmalbach converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute to give the Tritons a 1-0 advantage. Rollins equalized in the 19th minute, but in the 28th minute, Schmalbach found the back of the net for the second time off an assist from Tatum Fain to put the Tritons back in front.

The Tars answered again in the 37th minute to even the score at 2-2. Eckerd generated a pair of opportunities late in the opening half, with Monty Clark and Gavin Spuler each putting shots on frame, but the teams entered halftime deadlocked.

The Tritons applied pressure in the second half, with Spuler forcing a save in the 61st minute before Schmalbach put another attempt on target in the 64th minute. Rollins threatened in the 69th minute, but goalkeeper Trent Murphy made a key save to preserve the tie.

Just over a minute later, Bassette delivered the decisive goal in the 70th minute off a long feed from Fain to give Eckerd a 3-2 lead. The Tritons continued to push offensively, generating three more shots over the next nine minutes, while the defense held firm down the stretch to secure the victory.

Schmalbach led Eckerd with two goals on three shots, while Bassette added his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Fain dished out two assists, setting up both the second and third goals. Murphy collected six saves in goal, while Eckerd finished with 12 shots, including eight on target, compared to 13 shots and eight on frame for Rollins.

The Tritons will be back in action Wednesday to host Barry.