HIALEAH, Fla. ( Sept. 11, 2023) – Florida National University’s women’s soccer team drew a 2-2 tie versus the New College of Florida Banyans Monday. The Conquistadors (0-3-1) fell short in its first three games of 2023, losing to Sun Conference standouts, Florida Memorial University, St. Thomas University and Webber International University.
In the first, Florida National found themselves behind the eight-ball once again after NCF’s Nicola Taylor charged down the right side of the field, nutmegging the ball between the legs of Victoria Castillo before pelting in the Banyan’s first score of the afternoon. Efficiency was the name of the game for NCF, as the visiting team only recorded seven shots in the full 90 minutes to the Conquistadors’ 20.
FNU headed to halftime down 1-0 despite taking two corner kicks in the first. In the second, FNU turned up the intensity and senior forward Mickaela Calisto put her team in the driver’s seat in the 48th minute on an unassisted goal that slipped past NCF’s goalie Rebecca Barnett. Seven minutes later, Calisto performed a crafty cross-field pass to teammate Claudia Rivero for a much-needed Conquistador score to go up 2-1.
To their credit, the Banyans kept attacking and finally broke through on a goal from Lena Gouvern in the 59th minute after NCF’s Katie Matson whipped a pass right down the middle of FNU’s defense.
Goalie Nahomie Ambroise took two free kicks in the second from a distance that just missed the mark. With no team executing a last-second hail mary, FNU was forced to settle for its first draw of the 2023 season.
Ambroise picked up one save and three shots in the contest.
Up Next: The Conquistadors aim to upset the NCAA DII Barry Buccaneers Sept 14 at 7 p.m.
