Top soccer coaches throughout the world's biggest leagues consider the first game of a new season the most important of the year, as it can set the tone for the months ahead.

If that's the case, the SF State men's soccer team has plenty to look forward to after launching its 2007 season with a 3-2 win over Hawaii-Hilo at Cox Stadium Thursday, with goals coming from a freshman and two returning sophomores.

Though the Gators cruised to a 3-0 lead, the visitors kept the game interesting with a late rally, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes.

"You get out of here with a win, and that's the most important thing," said Gator coach Joe Hunter after the game. "I told the guys, technically this game should have been a 3-0 win. But we got out of here 3-2 and you give Hawaii credit for not giving up."

A defender's slip in the 15th minute allowed sophomore Dylan Glass to pounce on a loose ball and net the Gators' first goal of the season, while freshman Franco Cruz doubled the score late in the second half.

Hunter had brought on Cruz to inject some energy late into the game, and the diminutive play-maker did just that. Shortly after coming on he had an attempt cleared off the goal line, and after the resulting corner kick he latched on to an assist by substitute Kevin Gallette to score in the 74th minute.

Sophomore Wes Whitt added another two minutes later, assisted by Shawn Granger. Whitt, who scored three goals as a freshman last year, collected a free kick at the edge of the box to send a composed finish past the Hawaii goalkeeper.

While happy with his goal, Whitt was keen to stress the importance of an all-round team effort.

"For me it's not about the goals I score," he said. "What I want to see improved is our record as a team, that's all I care about. We dropped a lot of easy wins last year and I want to change that this year to move us forward."

The Gators came close to dropping an "easy win" in their new campaign when Hawaii pulled two back through Luiz Lanz and Alex Saunders in the 82nd and 88th minutes respectively -- but Hunter's men held on for the win, thanks in part to some tenacious defending by freshman Josh Kuluris.

"The freshmen definitely stepped up today," said Glass, who as a freshman forward led the Gators in goals last year with six. "We needed them and they played very well."

Added Coach Hunter, "I think everybody is showing that they are improving at one level or another. We had a player suspended today so we had to bring in someone new and they did a fine job."