WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Florida Southern men's soccer (4-4-1, 1-3-0 SSC) fell 2-0 to No.19 Palm Beach Atlantic University (7-0-1, 3-0-1 SSC) on Wednesday evening at Rinker Athletic Campus.
PBA secured the win with two first-half goals, while FSC was limited to six shots and a single shot on goal.
Game Notes:
- This was the 34th meeting between the Sailfish and Moccasins
The first half began with Florida Southern attempting to establish an early presence, as
Hector Oliver's shot in the 16th minute was saved, and
Joshua Grosser's attempt shortly after went wide. Despite these efforts, Palm Beach Atlantic capitalized on an opportunity in the 20th minute, with Tin Vastic scoring to put them ahead.
FSC faced a setback when
Ryan Fitzgerald received a red card in the 31st minute, leading to a penalty kick that Vastic converted, extending the Sailfish's lead. The half concluded with PBA holding a 2-0 advantage, as the Moccasins looked to regroup for the second half.
The second half commenced with the Sailfish maintaining pressure, as Niklas Mahler and Eli Ghebreab tested Florida Southern's defense early with shots.
Lasse Dettmer was called upon to make a crucial save in the 51st minute, denying a close-range effort from Joshua Wicks and keeping the deficit manageable.
Florida Southern's defensive line managed to withstand multiple offensive drives, highlighted by a corner kick from
Pablo Overfeld in the 58th minute, which briefly shifted momentum. Oliver fired a shot over the bar in the 78th minute, representing the Mocs' continued attempts to penetrate the Palm Beach Atlantic defense as the half progressed.
Despite numerous fouls and a yellow card issued to Grosser, FSC held firm defensively. The match concluded with Palm Beach Atlantic leading 2-0, as the Moccasins were unable to alter the scoreboard in the second half.
Dettmer recorded two saves in a complete game effort as goalkeeper. Fitzgerald was noted for receiving a red card, impacting the team's defensive lineup.
Dakota Henry contributed with one shot, playing a role in the midfield. Oliver led the team in offensive attempts, tallying three shots with one on target.
Vastic stood out for the Sailfish, scoring two goals from four shots, with three on target. His performance included a game-winning goal, contributing significantly to the team's win. Goalkeeper Flavio Giannini played a pivotal role in securing a shutout, facing six shots and making one save across 90 minutes. Veit Klement added value with an assist, providing crucial support in the midfield.
The next challenge for the Moccasins is a home match against Rollins College on October 8. The teams will face off at 7 p.m. at Berend Field in Lakeland, Fla., as Florida Southern continues its campaign on familiar turf.
