ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's soccer team downed UCF on the road on Saturday night by a 2-1 final score. The Owls picked up a vital three points and remained unbeaten in the American Athletic Conference at 2-0-1.
The first half was not devoid of chances as the sides combined for 12 shot attempts in the first 45. Five minutes into the second half,
Leo Keller was taken down by a UCF defender inside the box.
Victor Claudel converted the resulting penalty to put the Owls up 1-0.
UCF would respond six minutes later when leading scorer Lucca Dourado notched his seventh marker of the season.
The Owls then regained the lead once and for all in the 68th minute. UCF failed to properly clear an FAU corner which landed at the feet of
Blake Dean. The graduate senior took one chance and launched a missile into the top left corner from nearly 25 yards out. Dean's first of the season held up as the winner as the Owls knocked off their in-state rival for the first time since 2008.
The final shot count was 14-12 in favor of FAU with each team firing eight on goal.
Axel Hofmann stood tall between the pipes for the Owls, finishing with seven saves.
The Owls will head to Oklahoma on Wednesday for matchup with No. 12 Tulsa. Start time is scheduled for 8 p.m. eastern on ESPN+.