Women’s Soccer Heads to Postseason with 2-1 Win over FIU

Friday, October 26

Miami, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

11-7-1,8-1-1

FIU

0-17-1, 0-9-1

FAU

FIU

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

10/26/2018 9:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MIAMI, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team put a bow on the regular season with a 2-1 road victory over FIU to end the conference slate at 8-1-1. Next up is the 2018 Conference USA Championship, starting Wednesday.

The Turning Point:
FIU (0-17-1, 0-9-1 C-USA) got on the board first, in the 38th minute, and the Panthers looked as if they were on the verge of taking the lead into the break. But Mimi Godoy equalized for FAU (11-7-1, 8-1-1 C-USA) with just 58 seconds left in the first half, lofting a shot from the top of the box over the outstretched Panther goalkeeper.

The Finish:
The Owls came out on the offensive in the second half, taking the first 14 shots, with six saved and another, by Pernille Velta in the 62nd, off the left post. The 14th was the charm, as a charging Emma Grissom recorded her first collegiate goal on a rocket to the right corner in 70th.

Notables:

For Godoy, who recently celebrated her Senior Day, it was her first goal of the season and second of her career
On Grissom's game-winner, Mary O'Hara claimed her fourth assist of 2018
In all, FAU actually took the first 16 shots of the second half, holding possession until an FIU attempt in the 78th. The Owls had an 8-4 shot advantage at the half and ending up taking that column 24-8 overall
Leading the way was Velta with four, Sammy Vitols with three, and a host of Owls (six to be exact) with two each

Quotable:
"Tonight was a lot of things, we weren't very good at times," said Head Coach Patrick Baker. "I thought FIU came out with a lot of positive energy, it was their Senior Night … Very similar to last year, it was tied at halftime. I told the girls, Mimi (Godoy) gave us a lifeline with that wonderful goal right before halftime. We were down 1-0, and it was just a huge boost.

"We scored a wonderful goal," continued Baker, on the team's effort after the break. "Freshman Emma Grissom hit an absolute peach for the game-winner. Mary O (O'Hara) put it right on a plate for her, and (Emma) struck it from 25 yards out. Great goal, one of our best goals of the year."

Full Video with Coach Baker:

What's Next:
With the regular season in the rearview, FAU will now focus on the upcoming C-USA Championship. The Owls' first round opponent and start time will be determined as the rest of the league wraps their final games Sunday, and the tournament begins Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia.