C-USA Clash with the Gamecocks

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's soccer team (4-2-2, 1-2-0 in Conference USA) will try to stay in the win column, as the Owls receive a visit from South Carolina (6-5-1, 0-2-1 C-USA) on Saturday. This marks the Owls' second-to-last home match of the season, which is set for noon at FAU Soccer Stadium. Admission is free, but limited.

About the Owls

FAU sits at 4-2-2 and 1-2-0 in C-USA after picking up its first conference win at Old Dominion last Sunday
The Owls finished the non-conference slate undefeated with a 3-0-2 record, which marked the first time the program has gone into the conference season without a loss
FAU has outscored (10-7) and outshot (80-56) the opposition in the first eight matches
Alonso Coello Camarero and Blake Dean lead the team with five points. Each have generated their points off two goals and an assist
Jose Alastuey, Coello Camarero, Fabrizio Cubeddu, Dean and Daniel Skistad lead the way with one assist each
Coello Camarero and Ivan Mykhailenko have taken a team's most 15 shots with Mykhailenko tallying a team-high eight shots on goal
Neil Strauber has started all eight games in net to tally a 0.83 goals against average and a 0.781 save percentage. The Tel Aviv, Israel product has recorded four shutouts, which is the 11th most in the nation and fourth most shutouts in a single season in program history
The Owls' defense is led by centerback Graeme Pratt, who has played all 760 minutes on the pitch. Skistad and Vasilis Spinos have also been instrumental in the backline's efforts
FAU currently sits in fifth in the C-USA standings

National Recognition

Strauber was named United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week on Tuesday
The keeper was pivotal in the Owls' shutout on the road in the 1-0 victory at ODU where he matched a season-high six saves for a perfect 1.000 save percentage

About the Gamecocks

South Carolina boasts a 6-5-1 record, while going 0-2-1 in C-USA thus far
The Gamecocks were chosen to finish sixth in the conference after finishing in that position last season, going 2-5-0 in the league (and 7-9-2 overall)
Brian Banahan leads the Gamecocks with 10 points off four goals and two assists while taking 30 shots
Ryan Bilichuk has drawn the most starts in net with eight, while posting a 4-2-1 record along with a 1.45 goals against average and 28 saves

Match History Against South Carolina

The Owls are 2-5-0 against the Gamecocks
FAU won back-to-back contests against South Carolina, head coach Joey Worthen's alma mater, in his first two seasons at the helm
Last season, the Owls dropped their first contest against the Gamecocks in two seasons to fall to 2-1 on the road. Mykhailenko picked up the Owls' lone goal in the match
Both sides have played one another each year since 2013, FAU's first year in C-USA

Last Time on the Pitch

FAU captured its first C-USA win of the season in a gutsy 1-0 road win at ODU
Jean Paul Rafols subbed into the game at the 66th minute and found the back of the net seconds later. The junior scored off a header, which was delivered off a corner kick from Alastuey, who was credited with the assist
Mykhailenko led the Owls with three shots
Strauber was credited with six saves in his fourth shutout of the year

Up Next

FAU will have tough back-to-back road tests at nationally ranked Marshall (April 3) and Charlotte (April 10) before wrapping up the regular season at home against UAB on Saturday, April 17 at 1 p.m.

Owls on Social Media

For complete coverage of FAU men's soccer, follow us on Twitter (@faumsoccer), Instagram (@faumsoccer) and Facebook (FAU Men's Soccer).

Calendar

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Players Mentioned

Nacho Alastuey

Alonso Coello Camarero

Fabrizio Cubeddu

Blake Dean

Ivan Mykhailenko

Graeme Pratt

Jean Paul Rafols

Daniel Skistad

Vasilis Spinos

Neil Strauber

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus FIU on September 26, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer at Missouri State on October 3, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus FGCU on October 8, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus Memphis on October 12, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer at Charlotte on October 17, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus UAB on October 24, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic University Athletics