Box Score

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s soccer team returned to its winning ways Tuesday evening by defeating the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish, 2-1 at the NSU Soccer Complex.

Craig Heenighan (Sr., Widnes, England) and Paul Lewis (So., Plantation, Fla.) each scored their first goals of the season against the Sailfish (3-2-0). It was the first goal of Lewis’ career and the 16th career goal for Heenighan.

The Sailfish applied pressure at the start of the game and controlled the pace for the first 25 minutes. The experienced Shark (3-1-2) defense was resilient and held off the Sailfish. In the 25th minute, the Sharks had a major slip up by scoring an own goal and giving PBA a 1-0 lead.

The own goal woke up a Shark offense that did not score in its last two outings. Just a minute later the Sharks evened up the game with Heenighan’s unassisted goal. Aly Hassan (Sr., Weston, Fla.) had a great look at the goal from the left side but his shot bounced off the post. With the goalkeeper on the ground, Heenighan received the rebound and shot into a wide open net.

Lewis scored the game-winning goal in the 38th minute. In his first appearance of the season, Lewis received a pass on the left from Hassan, juked his defender, and shot a rocket that bounced off the cross bar and into the goal. The Sharks would take a 2-1 lead into halftime.

The Sharks did not score in the second half but their defense held up for the remainder of the game. The home crowd did have reason to worry at the end of the match as the referee gave PBA a free kick just outside the box with five seconds remaining. PBA’s Andres Tuesta belted the free kick into the corner of the goal, but NSU goalkeeper Lyle Howe (So., Coral Springs, Fla.) dove for his third and final save of the game. His record now stands at 3-1-2

The Sharks will return to the pitch this Friday, Sept. 24 at home against Thomas (Ga.) at 7:00 pm.