FORT WAYNE, Ind. --- Three unanswered goals in the second half, including a pair in the closing 16 minutes of play, rallied University of Saint Francis (Ind.) to a 4-3 victory over the University of St. Francis men's soccer team on Tuesday night in the season opener for the Fighting Saints.  Saint Francis (Ind.) is now 2-1 on the campaign.

Sasha Halabi provided the final two goals just over six minutes apart beginning in the 74th minute as part of a hat trick on the night for the junior defender.  He also tallied the Cougars' first goal at 15:36.

The next 26 minutes belonged to the Fighting Saints with three goals in a row of their own.  Jesus Flores answered Halabi's first tally just 92 seconds after that on an assist from Pablo Rubio Guerra.  Twenty-four seconds later, USF struck again with Rubio Guerra finding Marco Calixto for the go-ahead score. 

Head coach Vince Martinez's club would add one more goal for good measure to close out the half with Pablo Alvarez netting his first points of the season on a pass from Sergio Fernandez-Arango at 43:19.

Saint Francis mounted its comeback nine minutes into the second half on an Enrique Subiran unassisted goal to make it a 3-2 contest.  Halabi's game-tying and winning goals came at 73:58 and 80:12.

After recording four shots on goal in the opening half – three of which produced points – the Saints did not have any shots on goal in the closing 45 minutes and only took three total shots after the break.  For the game, they totaled 12 shots.

Saint Francis (Ind.) countered with 24 total shots, including 14 in the second half. 

USF goalkeeper Erick Murillo stopped nine shots on goal in his season debut.

Notes: After missing all of last season due to injury, Rubio Guerra returned with a bang, recording two of the team's three assists on the night … Calixto's goal was his first as a Saint … Alvarez needed just one game to match his season goal total of one year ago … Murillo, Rogelio Valles and Jose Perez all made their St. Francis debuts on Tuesday … The Saints continue their season-opening four-match road trip on Saturday at Spring Arbor University (Mich.).  Start time is set for 6 pm CDT.  

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