Owls Even Up Conference Mark with 3-0 Clean Sheet

Thursday, October 1

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

4-5-4, 2-2-0

South Florida

2-5-3, 0-1-2

Team	1	2	Final F
South Fla.	0	0	0
Fla. Atlantic	3	0	3

10/1/2026 10:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic women's soccer team scored twice in the first five minutes on its way to a 3-0 shutout victory over South Florida at FAU Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.

The Owls (4-5-4, 2-2-0) moved to .500 in American play behind quick early goals from Hailey Santiago and Lola Hathorne, and a penalty kick by Selena Gaytan just before the halftime break sealed the victory over the Bulls (2-5-3, 0-1-2).

THE TURNING POINT
Santiago's breakaway goal, off a great forward pass from Hathorne, came just 2:02 into the match. Then Hathorne herself doubled the lead, 3:03 later – at the 5:05 mark, beating the USF keeper one-on-one.

THE FINISH
With less than three minutes left before the half, Santiago drew a foul in the USF box, rewarding the Owls with a PK. Gaytan, the freshman midfielder, calmly stepped up and secured her first collegiate goal, beating the keeper to the left side of goal for a 3-0 lead. The Owls made that exact advantage stand despite a spirited effort by the Bulls in the second half, which included three saves by Owls' goalkeeper Lily Holden.

NOTABLES

Santiago becomes the first Owl since Mary O'Hara in 2019 to score 10 or more goals in a season.
Hathorne, just 13 matches into her young career, has four goals and a team-leading four assists.
Fellow freshman Gaytan is the Owls' sixth first-year to put a tick in the goal column this season, and the seventh to score a point.
Holden recorded six total saves in her first full collegiate clean sheet, and is now 3-1-1 in the net this season.
This marks the first Owls' shutout win in American play since Oct. 24, 2024 against Temple (also a 3-0 final).
Holden, Gaytan, and defenders Cicely-Ann Spencer-Wickham and Sydney Neira played the full 90'. Santiago (88) and Hathorne (85) nearly did as well.

QUOTABLE

Selena Gaytan - after her first collegiate goal - and Coach Baker following tonight's 3-0 win over USF pic.twitter.com/sP87adfVjc
— Florida Atlantic Women's Soccer (@FAUWSoccer) October 2, 2026

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (10-1-2026) Women's Soccer vs. South Florida

WHAT'S NEXT
The Owls' next two matches, both in conference, are on the road: Thursday, Oct. 8 in Denton, Texas against North Texas, and Sunday, Oct. 11 in Tulsa against the Golden Hurricane.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things Florida Atlantic women's soccer, follow the team on social media @FAUWSoccer.

#WIP