OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Stevenson men's soccer sophomore Kevin Benitez scored twice as the Mustangs snapped their losing skid with a 3-2 victory over MAC Freedom for Wilkes Saturday evening at Mustang Stadium.

The Mustangs (1-7-1) recorded their first win on the season and the first for first-year head coach Andrew Bordelon. The team is now 1-2-1 when scoring first on the season after totaling a season-high three goals.

It took just 2:39 for Stevenson to find the back of the net as Benitez cut the ball back off the end line and hit a shot over goalkeeper Tim Gallagher who came off his line. It is the fourth time the Mustangs have scored first this season.

A foul on the Colonels (2-6) in the 10th minute set up a penalty kick for the hosts, which freshman James Vess calmly hit left-footed to the lower right corner as Gallagher dove left. Stevenson is now a perfect 4-for-4 on the season on penalty kicks.

The hosts nearly added a third goal in the 16th minute as Benitez played a tight ball through to sophomore Colin Horne who sent a shot wide after two defenders cut down his angle.

Down the other end, Michael Hasbrouck collected the ball on a bad giveaway by the Mustangs defense in the box before playing it back to Camry Huff who's 18th shot deflected off the back of a Stevenson defender and over the reach of senior goalkeeper Michael Tringali.

Wilkes tied the game at 2-2 eight minutes later as Hasbrouck intercepted another bad pass by the Mustangs in their own defensive end. After Tringali made an initial save, senior Lorenzo Wright cleared the ball off the line but to a wide open Huff at the top of box who shot it inside the near post.

The hosts reclaimed the lead in the 37th minute as Benitez tallied his second of the day on a rip over Gallagher to the far right corner from inside the 18-yard box.

The second half was a chippy affair with neither team finding the back of the net. Wilkes was issued three yellow cards in the half while Stevenson was shown two. The two teams also combined for 15 fouls in the period.

Tringali totaled six saves in the win while the Mustangs outshot the Colonels, 20-17 and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

Stevenson wraps up its four-game home stand on Tuesday, September 27 when the Mustangs host a non-conference contest versus Roanoke beginning at 7:00 p.m.