Penalty Kick Elevates Owls to 1-0 Victory

Tuesday, February 9

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 PM

Florida Atlantic

2-0-0

Stetson

0-1-0

STETSON

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

2/9/2021 9:06:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's soccer team (2-0-0) stayed right where they are in the winning column, knocking down Stetson (0-1-0) Tuesday night, 1-0. Ivan Mykhailenko capitalized on a penalty kick try at the 56th minute, showing to be all FAU needed to prevail victorious.

How It Was Decided

The first half saw four yellow cards, two on Stetson and two on FAU. Both teams were held off the scoreboard in a scrappy game, while FAU had the slight edge in shots, 4-3.

At the 56th minute, the Owls were fouled in the penalty box, which set up for a penalty kick try. Mykhailenko lined up for the kick and found the back of the net to help the Owls take the lead, 1-0. Stetson tried to find a few looks to find the equalizer including one just as time expired, but FAU's defense limited the Hatters from notching a point on the scoreboard.

Of Note

Mykhailenko delivered his first goal of the season. The Owls' leading goal scorer from a year ago needed just one shot, the penalty try, to find the back of the net
Defenders Graeme Pratt, Omer Priyov and Daniel Skistad played all 90 minutes for the second straight game. Luis Sailer Fidalgo also played the whole game
Alonso Coello Camarero, Adrian Levy, Kevian Ferraz, Arturo Ernand and Celestin Theodore had each of the seven shots for the Owls
Neil Strauber held it down at net once again. The junior tallied four saves and his second shutout of the season in all 90 minutes at net
This marks the first time since 2009 the Owls have earned back-to-back shutout victories (1-0, OT vs. Florida Gulf Coast and 1-0 vs. Howard)
FAU is now 24-17-4 against Stetson in the all-time series

Coach Worthen's Take

On staying in the winning column:
"It is fantastic, especially when you look at the years previous to this, I think it just says a lot about this team with not only their playing ability, but their toughness," said head coach Joey Worthen. "With the way they have competed, two clean sheets in a row now says a lot about them."

On the backline's performance:
"It's the whole team, but they have done great. We have plugged in different players, and they have done fantastic. Neil [Strauber] in the goal has done really well, and I think it's just the mentality of this team that we are going to compete, we are going to be really tough and we aren't going to give anything cheap."

On Mykhailenko's first goal of the season:
"Ivan is clutch. He steps up and buries that with no question. I think the play that leads to it was a fantastic buildup, which put them in a situation they had to foul us. We put a really good ball in the box to Alonso [Coello Camarero], which leads to a penalty. I think again it came from a team effort."

Up Next

The Owls will finish the homestand against St. Thomas on Saturday at 6 p.m. FAU will then hit the road to face Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.

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