BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team moves into postseason play, with the target on their back as Conference USA's No. 1 seed. The Owls begin opening round play in the first of four quarterfinal round matches Wednesday and will take on No. 8 Louisiana Tech in Denton, Texas.
The Owls (14-3-1, 8-1-1 C-USA) will be looking to avenge their only league loss - and most recent loss - of the year, which took place nearly a month ago to the day, on Oct. 4 against the Lady Techsters (13-4-2, 5-4-1 C-USA). That 1-0 overtime defeat snapped a six-match winning streak for FAU but since, the team has gone 6-0-1.
The C-USA Championship is set up for quarterfinals on Wednesday, semifinals Friday, and the title match to determine the league's automatic qualifier on Sunday. FAU still has hope that if they do not earn the AQ, they could be chosen as an at-large, with a current national RPI rating of No. 32. The Owls still are earning votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll as well.
Owls' Week in Review
FAU wrapped the regular season (and wrapped up the C-USA title picture in the process) with a 2-1 win on Senior Night against FIU. Fittingly, two seniors –
Mary O'Hara and
Jessica Monteiro – punched in the goals in their final appearance on the FAU home pitch. The Owls won their final 10 matches in a row at home including the Friday night victory.
Owls' Quarterfinal Matchup in Preview
LA Tech ended the year by winning their final two matches after having gone 0-3-1 in their previous four. The capper was a 2-1 overtime road victory over Southern Miss, with both goals scored by All-C-USA First Team member, and the conference's leading goalscorer, Autumn Woodard. She ranks third in all of Division I this year with 17 goals. Two Lady Techster defenders also earned league accolades on Tuesday, in Elizabeth Doll (Third Team All-C-USA) and Josie Studer (All-Freshman).
Opponent History
LA Tech snapped a three-match winning streak in the series with the win a month ago, and brought the FAU advantage down to one, at 3-2. The only time these two teams have met in the postseason was at the 2016 C-USA Championship, a 3-0 Owl victory in the opening quarterfinal round. Then-freshman, now-senior
Elisha Holmes scored the first (and eventual game-winning) goal in the 10th minute.
C-USA Championship History
FAU has now qualified for five straight C-USA Tournaments, and have a 4-4 record. This group of seniors has won a match in each of the last four championships, with a finals appearance as freshmen, and advancement to the semifinal round each of the last two years. Here is the year-by-year history of the Owls since joining C-USA:
2015
- Quarterfinals: Lost to Old Dominion (2-1)
2016
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Louisiana Tech (3-0)
- Semifinals: Defeated North Texas (3-2)
- Finals: Lost to Charlotte (4-0)
2017
- Quarterfinals: Defeated UAB (1-0 in OT)
- Semifinals: Lost to North Texas (2-0)
2018
- Quarterfinals: Defeated Middle Tennessee (2-1 in OT)
- Semifinals: Lost to Southern Miss (1-0)
The only tournament title in program history came when the team was a member of the Atlantic Sun, in 2005. That year marks the only NCAA appearance for FAU as well.
Women's Soccer on Social Media
Follow the Owls on Twitter and Instagram, both @FAUWomensSoccer, and like the team on Facebook
here.
After This
Should the Owls advance, Friday's semifinal round matchup is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Eastern, against the winner of No. 4 seed Charlotte and No. 5 WKU. The championship match will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.