Box Score
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (3-1-2) drew against the Florida Tech Panthers (2-2-1) in a scoreless matchup Wednesday at the NSU Soccer Complex.
Although the match finished without a goal, the Sharks looked like the sharper and more aggressive team on the field. NSU nearly doubled Florida Tech's shot output, 17-9, and forced six saves by goalkeeper Mitch Thorn. NSU goalkeeper
Andrea Giombetti Jr., Rome) made four saves in the match en route to a shutout. He has played every minute in goal this season for NSU and has shutout four out of six opponents.
Captain
Andrea Spuntarelli (Jr., Rome) led the Sharks offensively with a team-high four shots. Spuntarelli also played well on defense, transitioning midway through the game from the midfield to the center back position. His high mark was a diving team save in the 79th minute that prevented the shutout.
David Robles (Jr., Miami) and
Erdi Guelac (So., Bavaria, Germany) each had three shots in the contest and six different Sharks recorded a shot on goal.
The first half was a 50/50 battle, with NSU controlling almost all of the action over the course of the first 30 minutes. With the half coming to a close, Florida Tech picked up their attack. The Panthers took three shots on goal, half of their game total, over the final 15 minutes of the first stanza.
The Sharks picked up the tempo after the halfway mark, doubling up the Panther's total of shots taken. From there, the match got very physical and nine cautions, five for Florida Tech and four for NSU, were issued over the course of the night. Despite the attack, the Sharks could not find the back of the net in the second half. NSU came close in the 83rd minute, with
Viktor Jonsson (Fr., Reykjavik, Iceland) getting a solid header on a cross from
Nicola Brivio (So., Gallarte, Italy). Thorn recorded the save that sent the match into extra time.
NSU continued to be the aggressor in overtime, but could not penetrate a Florida Tech squad that completed its third clean sheet of the season. The match ended with a bit of suspense, as Florida Tech committed a foul just outside the box with less than 10 seconds remaining. However, the referee did not stop the clock to allow the close free kick and the match was called.
The Sharks will take the week off before traveling to Saint Leo, Fla. to take on the Lions on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
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