CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team opened the Conference USA Championship Tournament with a statement win on Wednesday evening. The fifth-seeded Owls cruised past the fourth-seeded Lady Techsters of Louisiana Tech by a 4-1 tally in the quarterfinals.
Gi Krstec scored a pair of goals for FAU in lightning-quick fashion just nine minutes in to give FAU command of the game early. Her first goal came off rebound during a flurry of a sequence in the box. Bri Austin took a shot that ricocheted off the left post, then Krstec punched in the rebound just 9:05 in to give FAU the early edge.
Not only 40 seconds later, the C-USA midfielder of the year doubled up the Owl lead in sensational fashion. Krstec took a pass from Luisa Daikeler on the right side five yards outside of the box. She let one fly that sailed over the outstretched keeper and under the crossbar for the impressive goal.
LA Tech pulled within one in the 30′ and was very close to tying the game late in the first half. Lexi Gonzalez made a huge save with the defender at point blank range center in the box from five yards out to keep the Owls in front.
In the second half, Austin drew a hard foul from behind in the box to set up a penalty kick, and Hailey Landrus cashed in the PK to make it 3-1 in the 61′. Only five minutes later, Austin put it out of reach with a tremendous goal. She let one fly from well outside the box after taking a pass from Daikeler to stretch FAU’s lead to 4-1.
QUOTES FROM THE OWLS
“I thought our girls started the game very well,” FAU head coach Patrick Baker said. “I was a little surprised that LA Tech changed their shape. Gi was phenomenal early with two goals that really elevated and lifted us. We let them back in with a mistake that resulted in a goal, but to start the second half I said to them, ‘We can start the second half the exact way we started the first half.’ They followed suit, we had a great set piece to get Bri the ball and she got fouled. Hailey showed class as a senior, stepping up and hitting the PK, then Bri had an unbelievable goal to put the nail in the coffin. We’re really pleased, we scored a lot of goals, got a lot of players in and most importantly stayed healthy, so now its on to the semifinals.”
NOTABLE
- Krstec’s two goals put her at a career-high seven this season, which is second on the team
- Austin’s team-leading eighth score of the season sets her new career-high
- Landrus records her second goal of the season
- Daikeler’s two assists give her four on the year
- Gonzalez recorded four key saves in the win
- The Owls out-shot LA Tech 16-10 and also had a 7-5 edge on corner kicks
- FAU has now won three straight games, tying its longest win streak of the season
SEMIFINALS ON FRIDAY
The Owls will play the winner of Rice and Charlotte in the semifinals, which will be held at Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
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