Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (3-1-1) returned to the win column Saturday with a victory over old Florida Sun Conference rivals, the St. Thomas Bobcats (0-0-7), 2-1, at the NSU Soccer Complex.
Two goals from
Stefano Fanfoni (Jr., Cremona, Italy) lifted the Sharks, as the junior scored the first goal of the match in the 41
st minute and the game-winner in the 78
th minute. He recorded seven shots in the match and was the only Shark to strike more than once.
Victor Cardoso (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) set up the first goal and was the only Shark to record an assist.
Jo Jien Lee (So., Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia) returned to the starting lineup and recorded a career-high five saves.
Despite NSU's recent successes against St. Thomas, the Bobcats came out aggressive in the first half and looked to score first. In the 27
th minute, the Bobcats gave the home fans a scare with a deep free kick, but Mikhail Weatherly's boot went wide right. Sophomore
Victor Nirennold (Rennes, France) had a solid chance to put NSU up three minutes later, but his attack was deflected.
Fanfoni's first goal was a rocket from 25 yards out. Cardoso and Fanfoni made great strides up the field before Cardoso played the final pass to Fanfoni. He took one touch and ripped a strike from just beyond the top left corner. It deflected off the post and in to put the Sharks ahead. Within the next minute,
Nicola Brivio (Jr., Gallarate, Italy) nearly put another one in, but his strike went wide right.
After halftime, St. Thomas equalized with a goal in the 62
nd minute. Ricardo Acevedo took a great corner kick and played it into Marcelo Norton, who scored his second goal of the year. St. Thomas created great momentum with their goal and looked to attack often in the second half. Jien Lee would make four of his five saves in the period to keep the match tied.
Fanfoni put the Sharks ahead with just over 12 minutes remaining. Fanfoni made a heads up play when he received a clearance from St. Thomas goalkeeper Jack Hubbard. Fanfoni dribbled into the box and fired into the near post, giving him his team-best third goal of the year. Despite the lead, NSU kept pressing for more. The final three shots all came from NSU, but all went wide of the goal.
The Sharks will return on Tuesday for an exhibition match on Tuesday at home against Eastern Florida State at 7 p.m.
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