Owls’ Rally Falls Short in NCAA First Round

Thursday, November 20

Orlando, FL

7 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

12-4-2, 5-1-2

UCF

11-6-3, 4-3-2

Fla. Atlantic

UCF

11/20/2025 11:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Atlantic men's soccer saw its season come to an end on Thursday night in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Owls mounted a furious second half rally before ultimately falling short in a 3-2 defeat to UCF. The Knights advance to face Georgetown in the second round on Sunday.

The Owls owned possession early and had four corner kicks inside the first 10 minutes. The Knights opened the scoring, however, with their first shot on goal in the 15th minute. They doubled the lead in the 24th minute to take a 2-0 advantage into halftime.

The visitors cut the deficit to one early in the second half. Oliver Moller-Jensen saved a ball from going over the end line for a goal kick. Mamadou Diarra picked up the loose ball and sent a pass across the six-yard box, where Andreas Raisanen ripped a side-volley past the UCF keeper to make it 2-1.

UCF responded just four minutes later to reassert a two-goal lead with 30 minutes to play in the match.

The Owls made one final push inside the last 10 minutes. Aboubacar Traore's cross found Diarra, who headed home his ninth goal of the season to make it 3-2 with 9:50 on the clock. In the 88th minute, Eli Conway's shot from the top of the penalty area caromed off the left post and across the goal line but stayed out. That would be the final chance for Florida Atlantic.

The final shot count was 14-11 in favor of UCF, with eight on goal compared to six for the Owls. Goalkeeper Alfred Mikkelsen finished with three saves.

Postgame with @joeyworthen pic.twitter.com/K8uU1wGBH2
— Florida Atlantic Men's Soccer (@FAUMSoccer) November 21, 2025

The Owls finish 2025 with a record of 12-4-2, tying the 2004 team for the second-most wins in a single season.

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