TAMPA – The Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team used a second half comeback to steal victory from the jaws of defeat on Sunday night. The Owls scored two goals in the second half to come from behind against USF for the road victory.
LATE COMEBACK LIFTS FAU
USF (1-2-0) held a 1-0 lead in the second half, but relentless pressure from FAU (2-1-1) led to a late comeback. In the 67th minute, Mia Sennes scored the equalizer with her first goal of the year. The USF keeper shanked a clear attempt, and the ball bounced right off of Sennes who was challenging and went into the net.
FAU kept its foot on the gas down the stretch and created a flurry of scoring chances. With under two minutes remaining, Bri Austin took a shot that was stopped by the Bulls’ keeper, yet Gi Krstec was right there and punched in the rebound to give the Owls a late lead. The score was Krstec’s first of the year as well.
The Bulls had one last gasp with less than 30 seconds left, but FAU keeper Lexi Gonzalez saved the day with a stop on a blistering shot. Another header from USF with seconds left sailed just over the crossbar to give FAU the dramatic win.
QUOTES FROM COACH BAKER
“First of all, South Florida is a really good team, and we knew that heading in here,” FAU head coach Patrick Baker said. “Today, I thought it was a soft goal that we gave up, which was kind of disappointing, and then we had the weather delay. I told the girls that we could sit around and not really get after it, or we can come out and try to really change the impact of the game. Although we were fortunate to get the equalizer, we had five clear cut chances in the second half. We hit the post, their keeper made a really good save, then had another great chance and scored the goal. We are going to try to create quality chances and score goals, and tonight we managed to find a way to do that.”
NOTABLE
- This matchup is a sign of things to come, as FAU’s move to the American Athletic Conference will pit the Owls against the Bulls on a regular basis
- USF won the 2021 AAC Regular-Season Championship
- This is Krstec’s third game-winning goal during her FAU tenure and second with less than two minutes remaining. She also scored the game-winner in the 88th minute against UTEP last year
- FAU doubled up USF in shots by a 16-8 margin
- Krstec led FAU with six shots on the evening, while Austin got off four. Austin hit the left post in the second half
- The match had a two-hour lightning delay
- Gonzalez earns her first collegiate win in net
UP NEXT
The Owls will return to the pitch to face Oklahoma State on Thursday, Sept. 1 at home.
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