The Culver-Stockton College men's soccer team began the Brian Davidson era with a 2-0 loss to Southeastern (Fla.) University Saturday night at Ellison Poulton Stadium.

The Fire, who were ranked as high as eighth in the NAIA Top 25 national poll during the 2019 campaign netted a goal in each half to spoil the debut of Davidson, the former Culver-Stockton player who is beginning his first season as head coach of his alma mater.

After the Wildcats put some early pressure on Southeastern in the opening moments of the game, the Fire struck first in the 21^st minute after a C-SC foul deep in their own territory. Southeastern's Lucas Nishioka drilled a free kick from 23 yards out into the low right corner of the C-SC goal to give the Fire a 1-0 lead.

That goal turned the momentum into the Fire's favor and they seemingly controlled the half from there on out, ending the first 45 minutes with a 10-2 edge in shots.

SEU made it 2-0 early in the second half when Skylar Funk picked up a rebound and beat C-SC goalkeeper Ryan Houston. The goal was set up off a corner kick where Reece Riggins took the initial shot and the ball bounced off the post to Funk, who earned his first goal of the season.

C-SC could have made things interesting in the final 15 minutes but Fire goalie Carlos Curado made a diving save of a Lewis Fairley penalty kick in the 75^th minute to keep the Wildcats scoreless. Fairley recorded two of the Wildcats' five total shots in the game.

Houston, making his first career start for the Wildcats, made six saves for the Wildcats in goal. He made several nice saves to keep the Wildcats in the game.

C-SC (0-1) returns to action on Sept. 16, with its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener against William Penn University at Poulton Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.