Austin’s Clutch Score Powers FAU Over Kansas

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Bri Austin’s goal with only 11 seconds left gave the Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team a thrilling 2-1 win over Kansas.

The match was tied up at 1-1 late, and the Owls had possession deep in the Kansas zone. Hailey Landrus from the left side found Austin, who was draped with a defender. The Owl forward took a turn and fired a rocket shot from 25 yards out that curved just inside the left post and beat the diving Jayhawk keeper to give FAU the exciting win.


FAU improves to 4-3-2 with the win over the now 6-3 Jayhawks. Tonight also marked the final non-conference game of the season for the Owls.

QUOTES FROM THE OWLS

“After many hard-fought games, we felt like we should’ve come out on top in previous matches,” Austin said. “For our last non-conference game, we decided we were going to flip the script. We all worked very hard on that last play, and luckily the ball landed at my feet with 15 seconds left. I knew the clock was running out, so I had to attempt a shot from outside the box, and fortunately it went in.”

“Needless to say, it was a very exciting ending,” head coach Patrick Baker said. “Kansas is a very good team, they are better in person than they were on film. They are well-coached, and they scheme very well. I thought a key part of the game was Gi (Krstec) flipping the game with a great steal, dribble penetration and the equalizer on a great effort. On that last play, Bri did a great job of maintaining possession and turning. She hit it cleanly, it skipped off the wet grass and beat the keeper near post. We’re happy for our girls, we just beat a very good team, and we’re excited that that’s the last game before entering conference play.”

“It was a great moment in the last 11 seconds,” Krstec said. “Bri had a beautiful goal, and it was exciting to see the ball go in the back of that net. We fought so hard the entire game, and we showed that we can compete and definitely compete against top teams. It showed today, and we’re excited to go into conference play with such a big win.”

NOTABLES

  • Kansas recorded the first goal of the evening with a Rylan Childers goal in the 23′
  • Six minutes later, Gi Krstec tied it up for the Owls. Krstec ran down a turnover in the FAU offensive zone, took it up the left side of the box, and finished for her third goal of the season to tie it up at 1-1
  • Austin’s game-winner was her fourth goal of the season, a team-high. She also leads the Owls with 11 points
  • Her game-winner was her third as an Owl
  • Krstec’s goal marks her third of the year, which ties her for second on the team with Sofia Voldby
  • Landrus is now tied with Austin for the team lead in assists with three
  • Landrus came up big in the 13′ with a defensive save off a Kansas corner. A header was going to the left side and appeared to be heading for the back of the net, but Landrus was in perfect position to make the stop
  • Kansas held a 14-7 lead in shots, while the Owls had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks

UP NEXT

FAU will travel to the Lone Star State to begin Conference USA play at North Texas this Sunday, September 18. Match time is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

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