Owls Knock Off Stetson for First Win of 2022

Wednesday, August 31

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Stetson

0-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Stetson	1	0	1
Fla. Atlantic	1	1	2

8/31/2022 10:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University men's soccer team came from behind to defeat Stetson by a score of 2-1 on Wednesday night.

HOW IT STARTED

Stetson opened the scoring off a corner kick in the 38th minute. The Owls would respond in short order though and off a corner of their own. Just before halftime in the 44th minute, Spencer Mallion sent one into the mixer and Leo Keller outjumped a defender to head it home. Keller's second career goal tied it at 1-1.

TURNING POINT

Just over 90 seconds into the second half, the Owls would grab the lead. Andreas Raisanen attempted a cross into the penalty area, but it deflected off the arm of a Hatters defender. That afforded the home side a penalty kick and for the second consecutive game Victor Claudel was chosen to take it. The senior converted his third goal of the season for a 2-1 FAU lead.

HOW IT FINISHED

The Owls kept the foot on the gas and nearly added to the lead on several occasions. The best opportunity came in the 68th minute when Arthur Widiez got a head on a corner kick but was denied by the crossbar.

FAU would finish the second half with a 12-3 advantage in shot attempts. Despite a chippy finish with six yellow cards handed out between the two teams in the final 40 minutes, the Owls successfully held the Hatters off the board and preserved the first victory of 2022.

QUOTABLE

Head men's soccer coach Joey Worthen
"We came out kind of flat and going into the half we got on the guys and told them we can play with this team. Then we score right away and after that we just put them under. For big stretches we had them pinned in and they couldn't get out of their own half. There at the end, that's just college soccer. It's a battle and it can be a little ugly at times. Credit to the guys though. Good to close out our first win of the year."

WHAT'S NEXT

The Owls complete the three-game homestand with a visit from No. 23 Lipscomb on Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.