BOCA RATON, Fla.– The Florida Atlantic University men’s soccer team (9-6-3, 2-4-2 in Conference USA) is set to face No. 3-seed Kentucky (13-1-4, 3-1-4 in C-USA) in the C-USA Championship Title game tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Transamerica Field. The winner earns an automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which would be a first for the Owls’ men’s soccer program. FAU, who came into the tournament as the No. 6 seed, has knocked off No. 4-seed Charlotte (0-0 tie, advanced 5-3 in penalty kicks) and No. 2 seed, defending College Cup Champion in Marshall (3-1) to get to the title game. FAU would become the first No. 6 seed to win the C-USA Tournament since 2013.
ABOUT THE OWLS
- FAU is coming off perhaps its biggest win in program history, knocking down defending College Cup Champion Marshall, 3-1. This marked the first time the program has defeated the reigning national champions in men’s soccer
- The Owls earn a spot to a conference championship game for the first time since 2007 when the Owls went on to win the Atlantic Soccer Conference
- FAU will be playing in its first ever C-USA Championship title game on Sunday
- The Owls’ first C-USA Tournament victory came on Wednesday after outlasting Charlotte in penalty kicks, 5-3 in the 0-0 draw. This was also FAU’s first postseason victory since 2007 and broke a nine-game losing skid to the 49ers
- FAU is in its second straight conference tournament for the first time since 2007 and 2008 (conference didn’t hold one in the spring)
- The Owls have achieved back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003 and 2004. FAU’s current 0.583 winning percentage is tied for the sixth best in school history
- Filip Jauk and Ivan Mykhailenko lead the Owls with eight goals for 16 points, apiece. Both have the third most in C-USA, while Mykhailenko’s five game-winning goals is tied for the most in the league
- Luis Sailer Fidalgo has a team’s best six assists
- Neil Strauber has started in 18 matches with a 1.56 goals against average, 77 saves (most in C-USA) and five shutouts
- Davide Romeo and Jauk were named to the Top Drawer Midseason Top 100 Freshman List. Romeo came in at No. 44 and Jauk is No. 56
- The Owls average 1.61 goals per game
ALL-CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
- Five Owls were honored by C-USA to the All-Conference Team
- Alonso Coello Camarero (MF) and Jauk (F) were tabbed to the All-C-USA Second Team
- Tom Abrahamsson (D) and Mykhailenko (F) were chosen to the All-C-USA Third Team
- Jauk and Romeo earned spots on the All-Freshman Team
- Full release here
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
- Kentucky has enjoyed a successful season, boasting a 13-1-4 record (3-1-4 in C-USA) to serve as the No. 3 seed
- The team also pulled off an upset to defeat C-USA Regular Season Champions FIU, 3-0
- Luke Andrews and Daniel Evans (C-USA Third Team) lead the team with five goals, apiece. Andrews has a team-high 12 points
- Robert Screen boasts the team’s most six assists (C-USA Second Team)
- Jan Hoffelner has had a phenomenal year between the pipes, logging a 0.31 goals against average, 31 saves and 11 shutouts, which leads the nation. He was named C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year
- Luis Grassow (D) and Marcel Meinzer (MF) were named to the C-USA First Team
- Lucca Rodrigues (D) and Bailey Rouse (MF) were C-USA Third Team members
- Oliver Juul and Martin Soereide are C-USA All-Freshman choices
- The Kentucky backline has allowed eight goals
MATCH HISTORY
- Kentucky has dominated in the series’ 11 all-time meetings with a 10-0-1 edge
- The Owls are looking for its first win over Kentucky in school history to win the conference championship
- FAU and UK drew in 2014 in a 0-0 draw
- The two teams faced one another a little over a week ago, leading to a 3-0 loss for FAU after being outshot 19-3
- FAU has scored one goal in the past four meetings vs. the Wildcats. That goal came from Mykhailenko off a penalty kick
LAST TIME ON THE PITCH
- FAU delivered the upset of the year vs. No. 2 seeded-Marshall in the Semifinals, defeating the reigning College Cup Champions, 3-1
- The Owls punched their ticket to the C-USA title game for the first time in school history
- Marshall lost for just the second time this season with their 3-2 loss against Virginia Tech the other
- Abrahamsson got the Owls on the board first, as FAU never trailed in the game
- Mykhailenko scored his fifth game-winner of the year, while Célestin Theodore helped the Owls respond not even a minute after Marshall got on the board with an unbelievable goal at the 81st minute
- Jose Alastuey, Davide Romeo and Blake Dean captured assists on the night
- Strauber logged four saves, while allowing just one goal to find the back of the net off 13 shots faced
UP NEXT
With a win, the Owls will punch their ticket to the 2021 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship for the first time in program history. Selection show is set for Monday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.
OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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