NORFOLK, Va. – (Nov. 13, 2019) – The Florida Atlantic University men’s soccer team (7-8-1) fell to Kentucky (12-3-3) in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Conference USA Men’s Soccer Championships, 2-0. At the 89th minute tied at nil-nil, it looked as though the game would be sent into extra time, but the Wildcats capitalized on two late goals to end the Owls’ historical season appearance Wednesday night. The match marked FAU’s first C-USA Tournament appearance.
How It Was Decided:
Despite Kentucky being able to outshoot FAU, 11-1 in the first period, both teams were unable to find the back of the net. The Owls’ backline showcased a tenacious effort led by captain Adam Sullivan who came up with a defensive save of his own at the 43rd minute. The sophomore also had the Owls’ only shot going into halftime.
FAU showed urgency coming out of the locker room and would go on to outshoot the Wildcats in the second half, 10-6. As it looked as though the game was going into extra time, Kentucky’s Eythor Bjorgolfsson caught Hagay Jalon at a bad time, etching a goal to put the Wildcats’ up, 1-0. Just 14 seconds later, the Wildcats would strike once more to take the match, 2-0.
Of Note:
- O’Sullivan came into the match with five shots taken on the season and came up with three on the night. Ivan Mykhailenko also took three to the net
- Blake Dean and Alex Alexis came up with a shot on goal, apiece
- Jalon faced 16 shots tonight, coming up with five saves. He finishes his senior season with a 1.64 Goals Against Average and 39 saves
- Seven different Owls played the full 90 minutes of the match. The backfield unit of Daniel Skistad, Graeme Pratt, O’Sullivan and Tom Abrahamsson stayed out the entire match, along with Jalon, Alexis and Mykhailenko
- The Owls’ seven wins on the year is the program’s most since 2013 and more than the past two seasons combined
- FAU’s three conference wins also marks the most for the program since 2007 before they were members of C-USA
Owls on Social Media:
For complete coverage of FAU men’s soccer during the offseason, follow us on Twitter (@FAUMensSoccer), Instagram (@FAUMensSoccer_) and Facebook (FAU Men’s Soccer).
– FAUSports.com –
Florida Atlantic University Athletics:
FAU Athletics is comprised of 21 intercollegiate teams involving 450 student-athletes that compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, beach volleyball, cheer and dance. The Owls are a NCAA Division I-A (FBS) institution and compete in Conference USA and the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) (beach volleyball, men’s swimming). The Owls have been playing football since 2001 and are a perfect 3-0 in bowl games, the most recent being a 50-3 victory over Akron in the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl. The dance team finished its 2014 season No. 8, nationally. FAU cheer won a national championship in 2016.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu
