The GSW men's soccer team dropped a pair of matches in southern Florida to start the 2009 season, falling 2-0 at Barry University on Thursday evening and 4-1 Saturday night at Nova Southeastern.

GSW 0, Barry 2

On Thursday, the Hurricanes were looking to head into the halftime break with a 0-0 score until BU's Mark Anderson scored a goal with 34 seconds remaining in the half to give the home team the lead.

It remained 1-0 through most of the second stanza until Sealy Kendall from Barry added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute off a give-and-go from Ryan Alexander.

Goalkeeper David Porley made seven saves in his GSW debut. Daniel Walsh saved four for Barry.

BU outshot the Hurricanes 28-10. Southwestern committed nine more fouls (19-10) than the Buccaneers.

A 4 a.m. departure and 10 hour bus ride Thursday morning didn't prevent the 'Canes from playing sharp in their season opener. GSW lost to Barry 3-0 at Hurricane Field in 2008.

GSW 1, Nova Southeastern 4

On Saturday evening in Ft. Lauderdale, after lightning delayed the match an hour and a half, Nova Southeastern scored three goals in the first 39 minutes to take a 3-0 advantage. Southwestern played the Sharks even the rest of the way and eventually fell 4-1.

NSU posted scores in the 15th, 31st and 39th minutes.

Will Phillips notched the Hurricanes first goal of the season off and assist from Jesse Davis at the 44:17 mark.

Nova Southeastern added their final score in the 76th minute.

Phillips and Sean Howe led GSW's offensive attack with three shots apiece. NSU outshot the Hurricanes 24-9.

Porley stopped nine shots for Southwestern. Lorenzo Migliavacca saved four for NSU.

Signs of improvement? The Hurricanes lost to NSU 5-0 in Americus last year. So, over the first two games, against the same two opponents, in 2008 GSW was outscored 8-0 (at home)...this season the differential was 6-1.

The Hurricanes host Florida Tech on Friday at 3 p.m.