MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - 12th ranked St. Thomas (1-0) won its season opener with a 4-1 victory over Ave Maria (2-2) on Saturday night at Bobcat Field.

Itay Forkosh recorded a hat trick in his St. Thomas University debut, scoring two of his three goals in the second half.  

Forkosh started his scoring parade with a beautiful solo attack that resulted in a goal with just 58 seconds remaining in the first half.  He followed that with another goal in the 48th minute, beating the Gyrene goalkeeper on a one-on-one opportunity to give the Bobcats a 3-1 lead.  

The hat trick was then completed for Forkosh in the 75th minute as he fired a shot into the back of the net off an assist by Nicole Dallomo. 

Harry Molyneux opened the scoring with a goal in the 35th minute, Lasse Lahrtz to give the defending Sun Conference champions their first goal of the season.

Molyneux also manned the center of the STU defense along with Santeri Bergman as the Bobcats' back line allowed only three shots on goal in the contest.

Meanwhile, the Bobcat offense registered 16 shots, 12 of which were on goal.

St. Thomas returns to action with a match at NCAA Division I opponent Florida Atlantic on Saturday, September 1 in Boca Raton, Fla.

-30-