Owls Take Down 14th Ranked FIU

Friday, October 20

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

4-6-3, 3-4-0

FIU

8-3-3, 4-1-1

FIU

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: Keira Arimenta

10/20/2023 11:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score AAC Standings

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic men's soccer sent a shockwave through the AAC on Friday night. The Owls defeated No. 14 FIU 2-1 to earn a massive three points in the conference standings with just one AAC match left to be played in the regular season.

Victor Claudel put the Owls on the board first in the 12th minute. Leon Reilhac played a ball into space down the right flank and Claudel ran onto it in the penalty area. The FIU goalkeeper came out to challenge Claudel, but the Frenchmen sidestepped him. Despite a tight angle, Claudel was able to find the far corner of the open goal to put the Owls on top. It was his fifth goal of the season.

The Owls carried the 1-0 edge into halftime. Just minutes after the restart of the second half, Noah Kvifte doubled the lead. Leo Keller's cross into the six-yard box was slightly behind Kvifte but the Owls' center forward found a way to redirect it back across his body, into the bottom corner. Kvifte's team-leading sixth goal of the season made for a wild final 40 minutes.

The Owls found another level defensively for the remainder of the second half. Despite FIU getting on the board to make it 2-1 in the 63rd minute, goalkeeper Rotem Fadida stood tall to finish with four total saves. The Owls held on to defeat their rivals from the south for the first time since 2013.

QUOTABLE

Postgame with head coach @joeyworthen and captain Tom Abrahamsson #WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/YF5TL1GoVP
— Florida Atlantic Men's Soccer (@FAUMSoccer) October 21, 2023

WHAT'S NEXT

The Owls have one league match left in the regular season – November 1 at USF. Prior to that, they'll celebrate senior night on Tuesday with a non-conference visit from Florida Gulf Coast. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG

To stay up to date on all things Florida Atlantic men's soccer, follow FAU on social media @FAUMSoccer.