BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –The Florida Atlantic University men’s soccer team (6-7-1, 2-4) took down Conference USA opponent UAB (3-11-2, 1-4-1) Saturday night after capitalizing off a golden opportunity by Jean Paul Rafols. The sophomore scored the only game in the contest at the 84th minute to elevate the Owls to a 1-0 victory on the Blazer’s Senior Night.
How It Was Won:
Both sides dominated defensively in a game that looked like one goal would seal the deal in the game. At the halfway point, both teams were tied with three shots apiece, with each of the three Hagay Jalon faced being on goal. In the second half, the Blazers outshot the Owls 7-6, but key stops by the Owls held UAB off the scoreboard.
Just when the game looked like it was going to head into overtime, Alex Alexis broke away on the left side of the box to find Rafols, who found the back of the net at the 84th minute. Rafols’ first goal of the season couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Owls’ C-USA tournament chances are still alive with their first road win of the season.
Coach Worthen’s Take:
“I’m really proud of the guys,” said head coach Joey Worthen. “We knew coming into this game it was going to be a battle and a must-win for us. Our guys competed the whole game and made big plays when needed! Hagay [Jalon] was fantastic and kept us in the game. The team still has a lot to prove and know we are one step closer to one of our goals of making the conference tournament!”
Of Note:
- Rafols scored his first goal of the season, fourth on his career. The clutch goal was also his first game winner
- Alexis came into the match ranked 19th in the country for assists per game. The senior picked up his seventh of the season, which is tied for sixth in program history for most assists in a single season
- Four of the Owls’ nine shots were taken by Alexis with Jose Alastuey, Ivan Mykhailenko, Joe O’Sullivan, Blake Dean and Rafols taking the other five
- Gritty defenders Joe O’Sullivan and Daniel Skistad played the full 90 minutes of the match. This was O’Sullivan’s 11th full game of the season and Skidtad’s fourth
- Jalon tallied his third blank sheet of the year after recording six saves on the evening
- The Owls’ six wins of the season marks the most in the program since 2013
Up Next:
The Owls will be back at FAU Soccer Stadium for the final time this season, as they host Old Dominion in a match that has big C-USA tournament implications. First touch is set at 7 p.m. with Senior Night festivities commencing beforehand.
Owls on Social Media:
For complete coverage of FAU men’s soccer, follow us on Twitter (@FAUMensSoccer), Instagram (@FAUMensSoccer_) and Facebook (FAU Men’s Soccer).
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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.
