Owls Double Up Shorthanded UNF

Friday, September 13

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:45 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

2-2-1, 0-0-0

North Florida

1-4-2, 0-0-0

North Florida

Fla. Atlantic

Photo by: Ben Chitoff

9/13/2024 11:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic men's soccer improved to 2-2-1 with a 2-0 win over UNF on Friday night. Mamadou Diarra provided both goals for the Owls, who now head into conference play with momentum.

The Owls had the better of the play early on, and that became even more true after North Florida went down to 10 men in the 12th minute. The Ospreys' Joaquin Acuna was shown a straight red card for headbutting FAU goalkeeper Nacho Alfaro.

It took until the 34th minute for the Owls to make the man-advantage count. Off a corner to the back post, Arthur Widiez sent it back across the six-yard box. Mamadau Diarra was there to cash in with a highlight-reel bicycle kick.

A BICYCLE KICK BEAUTY! @FAUMSoccer's Mamadou Diarra opened the scoring with this absolute stunner.#NCAASoccer #SCTop10 x 🎥 ESPN+pic.twitter.com/SkqGFu5tie
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) September 14, 2024

The Owls continued to dominate possession and the shot count through halftime and deep into the second half. They finally put the match on ice in the 84th minute, again courtesy of Diarra. This time Kerfalla Toure delivered the cross and the senior striker picked the top left corner for his second of the night.
Florida Atlantic finished with 17 shot attempts compared to just three for UNF. Six of the 17 were on target. Alfaro kept the clean sheet at the other end, his second of the season, with a two-save performance.

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