A win is a win and a loss is a loss. The Panthers and Florida Atlantic University were reminded that ties do happen, as well, on Sunday, Oct. 5. The important match was slated to take place Friday evening on Oct. 3, but Mother Nature decided to pay a visit to Boca Raton.
Coming into the 0-0 tie, both teams had plenty to play for. With a win and three points, either team would have attained a step ahead of the other. Both teams were 1-1 in Conference-USA play, while FAU held a 6-5-1 record compared to the Panthers’ 6-5-0.
Being rivals, both teams had their aggressiveness on display early. Between the universities, they combined for 31 fouls and four yellow cards. Redshirt junior defender Sara Stewart was the only recipient of a yellow for the Panthers, while the Owls were assessed three.
The most costly foul came at the 48th minute. Senior midfielder Johanna Volz found her way into FAU’s box and was fouled hard, resulting in a penalty kick for the Panthers. Volz, 1-2 on penalty kicks before Oct. 3, stared down FAU goalkeeper Sydney Drinkwater. Unfortunately for Volz, Drinkwater made the save, adding to her four on the night.
An early flurry of pressure in the first half came via FAU, but the Panthers stout defense (recording their sixth shutout) kept chances from reaching the back of the net. FAU didn’t allow a shot in the first 45 minutes, but that pattern did not last. The second half presented more opportunities for the Panthers as redshirt senior Chelsea Leiva rocketed two back-to-back shots, the first in the 58th minute. Leiva finished with four shots, three on goal.
As overtime loomed, desperation for a goal was present on both sides. Sophomore midfielder Alyssa Robinson launched a shot that flew wide of the goal, keeping Drinkwater at bay for the time being. Freshman goalkeeper Nevena Stojakovic for the Panthers made quite possibly the most important save of the match in the 72nd minute, denying FAU’s Sammy Lujan’s shot on goal.
After 90 minutes, both teams prepared for overtime. The Panthers saw their first bit of overtime action this season on Oct. 5, but acted like they had been there before. In the 93rd minute, the Panthers were given a corner kick, taken by sophomore midfielder Madlen Weinhardt. Inching closer and closer, Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt and his team were knocking on the door of victory. The first 10-minute half concluded with a whopping four FAU fouls.
The last minutes of the match were all-or-nothing for the Panthers and Volz proved she wanted to give everything for a goal. A cross into the box found the head of Volz, but the attempt was blocked by Owl defenders. The Panther offense generated three corners in the 10-minute period. One final push was left in the tank of Leiva in the final 60 seconds. Drinkwater, once again, stifled any chance at late-game heartbreak for FAU and saved the true header by Leiva.
110 minutes later and a tie became the result of the intrastate rivalry. Each school was awarded one point, proving that FAU and the Panthers will continue to stay close to one another until next weekend’s matches. The Panthers are now sitting in seventh place, with the Owls right behind at eighth (both with 1-1-1 conference record). FAU sees Middle Tennessee State University next, while the Panthers face the University of Alabama at Birmingham (3rd in C-USA). The importance of a win for either team is now escalated after the recent result.
The Panthers (6-5-1,1-1-1) look to gain higher ground on the competition Friday, Oct. 10, against UAB in Birmingham, Ala.
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