BOCA RATON, Fla. – (Aug. 23, 2019) – The Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team battled back to tie Florida with under three minutes to go in regulation, but the Gators would prevail in the opener for both teams, 3-2 on Friday night from FAU Soccer Stadium.
The Turning Point / The Finish:
The Owls’ (0-1-0) equalizer in question came off a tremendous cross from Tiril Haga, finding senior teammate Mary O’Hara in the center of the box. Her first goal of 2019 squared things at 2-2 and eventually forced overtime. But in the first extra frame, UF’s (1-0-0) Deanne Rose made good on her second score of the match, exactly midway through the period, for the game-winner.
Notables:
· In addition to O’Hara, coming through with their first tally of the year was Pernille Velta
· The goal came in the 18th minute and gave FAU the early 1-0 lead
· Florida scored two unanswered in the second half before the late tie
· Redshirt freshman Cassidy Wasdin drew the start in goal for the Owls, making her collegiate debut
· Joining her on the field for their first matches as well were Amber Tam, who played all 95 minutes on the back line, and fellow true freshman Molly Setsma off the bench
· Senior defender Carolyn Wotring was on for the full 95’ as well
· Leading the squad in shot attempts were O’Hara, Elisha Holmes and Gi Krstec, all with two apiece
· Prior to UF’s winner, the teams were all square in shots (10), saves (four) and corner kicks (seven)
Quotable:
“They scored a golden goal five minutes into the first overtime period,” said head coach Patrick Baker. “But I thought it was a very good, well-played game, I thought it was tactically savvy by both teams … I thought we made two terrific saves, I thought their keeper made two or three terrific saves. For the second time in three years here at home, we lost in overtime.”
Full Video with Coach Baker:
What’s Next:
FAU is back at it again on Sunday at home when the Owls face the Grand Canyon Lopes at 1 p.m. from FAU Soccer Stadium. The match will be streamed live on CUSA.TV.
– 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.
