Author: Thomas Lagrone
The UAB Blazers men’s soccer team (2-10-0) started strong as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Florida Atlantic (7-4-2). The Owls did not let that deficit phase them, as they came back and scored three unanswered goals to silence the crowd at BBVA Field.
For the first 22 minutes of the opening half, UAB had most of the possession and took six shots. UAB’s many chances led to the game’s first goal. UAB’s Brooks Rice showcased his fancy footwork by beating both a Florida Atlantic defender and goalkeeper to score on an open goal and give UAB a 1-0 lead 22 minutes into the first half.
However, this lead would last for just ten seconds. Florida Atlantic forward Pontus Steffensen scored his first goal of the season from a long pass assisted by Alonso Coello Camarero. UAB’s defense had a chance to stop the pass, but the defensive header only placed the ball closer to the goal, which set Steffensen up to tie the game at 1-1.
The script seemed to flip after that equalizing goal. The UAB defense was constantly on the backfoot and struggled to slow down the Florida Atlantic attack for the remainder of the first half.
The game started to get chippy towards the tail end of the first half, as multiple players on both sides received warnings from the referees. These warnings led to Florida Atlantic’s Filip Jauk receiving a yellow card in the 43rd minute. The score remained tied 1-1 heading into halftime.
To start the second half, Florida Atlantic picked up where they left off and continued to put the UAB defense into dangerous situations. In the 55th minute, Florida Atlantic finally scored as Ivan Mykhailenko converted on a cross by Blake Dean to give the Owls a 2-1 lead.
Florida Atlantic did not stop applying pressure, as they continued to fire shots on target and dominate possession. UAB’s Mason Robicheaux tried to transfer the momentum back towards the Blazers with a heroic strike, but his shot bounced off the woodwork.
Two minutes after the shot by Robicheaux, UAB defender Owen Travis fouled a Florida Atlantic attacker inside the box, which gave the Owls a penalty kick. Jauk, who acquired the yellow card in the first half, took the penalty and placed it perfectly in the top corner to give Florida Atlantic a 3-1 lead.
In the 80th minute, Robicheaux had another great shot to give the Blazers some hope, but it bounced off the woodwork again. The Blazers were unable to find another opportunity and fell to Florida Atlantic 3-1.
The Blazers are on a six-game losing streak with three games remaining in the season. UAB will look to bounce back in their next game against Coastal Carolina (3-4-4) Tuesday, Oct. 26 in Conway, S.C.
The Blazers have one home game remaining on November 6th against Charlotte (8-5), which will serve as UAB’s senior night.
