Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU to Play Rival FIU on Halloween
10/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 29, 2008
BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team wraps up its regular season schedule with its "Owl-O-Ween" game against rival Florida International University on Friday, October 31 at 7 p.m. at FAU Field, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.
Kids that come dressed up in their Halloween costumes will receive a free FAU soccer T-shirt and candy. A halftime costume contest also will be part of the festivities.
FAU has compiled a 5-4-1 record against Sun Belt Conference (SBC) teams this season and has clinched a spot in the postseason league tournament scheduled for November 5-8 in Denton, Texas.
FIU, at 4-4-2 versus the SBC, also has qualified for the SBC postseason tournament. Both sides will be looking to secure a best-possible seeding in the eight-team bracket.
With a victory or tie against FIU on Friday, the Owls can lock up a fifth-place league finish and a spot in the Wednesday, November 5 game featuring No. 4 vs. No. 5. A loss could drop the Owls into seventh place and a date with the league's No. 2 seed in the opening round.
"Every game will be difficult in the tournament," says FAU head coach Brian Dooley. "So trying to avoid a first-round game with anybody is not what we are focused on. We want to go after this game against FIU, play well, with the hope of bringing momentum into the postseason."
Dooley has been remarkable in guiding FAU to eight-consecutive winning seasons. After a 1-8-1 beginning this year, Dooley and the Owls have bounced back to bring a 6-9-1 record into the regular-season finale this weekend.
Under Dooley, the Owls own a 5-2 series edge against FIU. The Owls have outscored the Golden Panthers 11-0 in the team's last five meetings - all FAU victories.
For tickets and more information, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
PLAYER NOTES: Ashley Mannarino's four game-winning goals against the Sun Belt have propelled FAU into the top-tier of the league standings (four game-winners vs. SBC leads the league)... She has scored at least one goal in five of FAU's last six SBC matches and ranks fourth in shots (32) among all players within conference play... Mannarino, a local product from Boca Raton, netted the deciding goal in road wins against both Louisiana-Monroe (4-3 FAU) and at Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1 FAU)... She was also credited with game-winning goals versus South Alabama and Arkansas State... She leads the Owls in goals (6) points (13) and shots (40) and ranks in the Top 10 in virtually every offensive category within conference play. Jannica Tjeder, the 2007 SBC Newcomer of the Year, has been a steady influence in the midfield for FAU... Her strong ball-winning is part of her complete midfield play, which includes defending and scoring... Scored a pair of goals in FAU's comeback victory over Louisiana-Monroe- fueling a five-game FAU winning-streak in October... She has totaled eight points since October 10. Janelle Blake, forced to move from forward to defense - starting as a defender in all of FAU's 10 SBC matches ... Dominant player in the air, dangerous on free-kicks... An FAU team captain, Blake has shown leadership to put FAU in position to qualify for the league tournament and move into fifth place in the league standings after beginning the season 0-3-1 against the SBC. Laura Hyvonen, a transfer from Vantaa, Finland, has been essential in FAU's late-season resurgence... Hyvonen ranks third among all league players in goals (6) and sixth in points scored (12)... She has scored in four consecutive matches - putting 13 shots on goal and scoring five times in FAU's last four... Her play has allowed the Owls to move into fifth place in the league standings and secure a spot in the league tournament which included a five-match October win-streak versus the SBC.
