Mannarino Leads FAU Past South Alabama

Sunday, October 19

Boca Raton, Fla,

12:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

5-8-1, 4-3-1SBC

South Alabama

4-10-2, 2-4-2SBC

South Alabama

Florida Atlantic

10/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 19, 2008

Final Stats | Action Photos

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University improved to 4-3-1 in Sun Belt Conference play and moved into the top tier of the league standings after defeating the University of South Alabama 2-0 Sunday.

Junior forward Ashley Mannarino netted her third game-winner of the season for FAU and added an assist in the later stages of the second half to assure the Owls of its fourth-consecutive victory.

Florida Atlantic (5-8-1, 4-3-1 Sun Belt) is now firmly in position to qualify for the league's postseason tournament, hosted by the University of North Texas November 5-9. The Owls also have a legitimate chance of finishing the year 8-8-1 overall if the team can win its final three matches - all coming against opponents with losing records - which would be a remarkable achievement considering the team's 1-8-1 start.

FAU had a series of offensive chances in the first half of Sunday's match with USA and ended up out-shooting the Jaguars 18-2. In the opening 45 minutes both Brittany Comer and Jannica Tjeder had shots saved by USA keeper Kelsie Langford and Mannarino had a shot graze the cross bar.

The second half began as more of a defensive battle, with neither team getting off a shot in the16 minutes following the intermission. Mannarino was presented with a pair of opportunities at the 62-minute mark and was able beat Langford from point-blank range to put FAU in front 1-0.

Mannarino, a native of Boca Raton and graduate of Pope John Paul High School, leads the Owls in shots (31), points (9) and shots on goal (13).

South Alabama (4-9-1, 2-4-2 Sun Belt) had begun the weekend one game in front of FAU in the league standings, but dropped both matches on its two-match weekend road trip through South Florida.

FAU will next play at Arkansas State University Friday, October 24 and at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Sunday, October 26.