BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team has moved on to the Conference USA Championship semifinal round for the fourth straight year and will take on No. 4-seeded Charlotte on Friday evening in Denton, Texas.
The Owls (14-3-2, 8-1-1 C-USA) technically tied Louisiana Tech in the quarters, as it was 0-0 after two overtimes, but prevailed and advanced in a penalty kick shootout, 4-3 over the Lady Techsters. In the 4/5 matchup, Charlotte (13-5-0, 7-3-0 C-USA) survived WKU, 2-1.
Owls' Quarterfinal Matchup in Review
FAU battled the Lady Techsters through 110 minutes scoreless, but successful PK's by
Sammy Vitols,
Pernille Velta,
Luisa Daikeler and
Tiril Haga outdueled two makes, a save, another make, and an attempt off the crossbar by the No. 8 seeds.
Owls' Semifinal Matchup in Preview
Charlotte was No. 1 in the C-USA standings with two weekends to go, but lost their last two regular season matchups, both at home. UTSA took a 2-1 victory, and Old Dominion prevailed in the finale, 1-0. First Team All-C-USA member Megan Greene leads the 49ers with 10 goals, and was joined in receivingg that accolade by defender Riley Orr. Julia Grainda (seven goals and seven assists) was named to the Second Team.
Opponent History
The two squads did not meet in this regular season or last, and Charlotte has actually taken the last two matchups against the Owls to even up the all-time series at 2-2-1. Both of the last two matchups took place in Charlotte, in the 2017 regular season (the 49ers won, 3-2), and in the 2016 C-USA Tournament championship game (a 4-0 Charlotte victory).
Women's Soccer on Social Media
Follow the Owls on Twitter and Instagram, both @FAUWomensSoccer, and like the team on Facebook
here.
After This
The winner of this matchup will take on either North Texas or Rice in the championship on Sunday. The winner of that will earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Kickoff Sunday is at 1 p.m. Eastern.