MIAMI, Fla. (March 16, 2021) – In the team’s final game of the 2020 (spring 2021) season, the Florida National women’s soccer team battled the Edward Waters Tigers to a 1-1 (2OT) draw on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a tale of two halves (of the field) as the team with the wind to their back, controlled much of the possession. FNU opened up the first half with the wind at its back and out-shot the Tigers, 11-5.
The Conquistadors created a number of chances earlier in the game but stellar defense by the tigers back line and goalkeeper kept FNU off the board.
With time winding down in the first 45 minutes of action, Selene Vasquez broke the scoreless tie with her first goal of the season. The native of Riverside, California, took advantage of a loose ball in the area in the 41st minute to give FNU a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, EWC’s offense came to life as this time the wind aided the visiting team. The Tiger’s out-shot the Conquistadors in the final 45 minutes, 7-2. In the 82 minute, Alyha Velasquez-Diaz took a corner kick from the right side a slipped a shot past the FNU defense to knot the game up at 1-1.
The match was unable to be decided in regulation and went into sudden death overtime.
Again, wind played a part in the offensive game of each team. The Tigers forced FNU goalkeeper Vanessa Osorio to make three of her eight total saves in the first overtime, including an outstanding save on a shot by Mercy Lawson just 51 seconds into the extra period. Still neither team found the back of the net, sending the game to a second overtime.
FNU had its best chance to win the game with four minutes left in the contest. EWC was forced to play a man down after Velazquez-Diaz received a red card. However, the Conquistadors could only muster two more shots in the final minutes as the game ended in a draw.
Osorio finished the match in net for the Conquistadors, recording eight saves in 110:00 minutes of action.
For the match, FNU held a slight edge in shots, 18-16, but EWC found more shots on net, 9-6.
With the draw, FNU ends the season with an 0-5-1 record.
