MELBOURNE, Fl. – Saint Louis FC started the 2018 preseason with an 8-2 victory over Eastern Florida State College in Anthony Pulis’ first game in charge of the club on Wednesday night. The team will face Florida International University (FIU) on Sunday before returning to St. Louis for the remainder of preseason.

Saint Louis FC started on the front foot in the 7th minute with Corey Hertzog putting away the corner taken by Aedan Stanley. They would double the lead off another set piece situation as Tony Walls headed home from a free kick in the 17th minute before Wal Fall added the third in the 25th minute. Fall then turned provider as Albert Dikwa finished in the 30th minute to give STLFC the 4-0 lead going into halftime.

The second half was more of the same as Austin Martz claimed a hat-trick with goals in the 57th, 65th, and 75th minutes to make it 7-0. A late own goal created by Jack Maher made it 8-0 before Eastern Florida State College scored two goals at the end to finish 8-2.

"It was a good exercise for us," said Pulis. "We had some good passages of play at times. I'm disappointed with the two goals we conceded at the end which left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth but it's still very early in the process. The guys have been working extremely hard and we've been pleased with the quality and intensity of the training. Everyone came through 45 minutes unscathed which is important and now we'll recover and get ready for Sunday's game with FIU which will be a tough test."