WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (5-4-0) scored the opening two goals but could not fend off the undefeated No. 5 Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (9-0-1), falling 4-2 on the road Saturday.
 
NSU came out of the gate attacking the national contenders, and for the second-straight match, Jacob Sumaljag (Fr., North Port, Fla.) put NSU ahead early. The play started in the 16th minute when Faycal Oulahbib (Jr., Paris, France) found a streaking Sumaljag onside. The speedy freshman blew by his defender and caused PBA goalkeeper Steeven Raymont to come out towards the forward. Sumaljag chipped it over Raymont's head and watch the ball bounce slowly into the net for his second goal of his freshman campaign.
 
The goal put a sense of urgency in the Sailfish's attack, which allowed NSU to take advantage of their attack in the 29th minute. The second goal came on a freshman connection, with Daniel Gutierrez (Weston, Fla.) finding Nate Bladecki (Troy, Mich.) on a counter attack. From the right side, Bladecki belted in his third goal by sliding a shot across the box and past the keeper.
 
The Sharks entered halftime leading 2-0 and looking to pull off the upset, but the Sailfish showed their pedigree by equalizing in the first five minutes of the second half. Jermaine Metz was the hero for the home team, putting in goals in the 48th and 49th minutes.
 
NSU and PBA remained tied for roughly eight minutes, but a foul in the Sharks' box set up a penalty kick for Tom Gavin that put the Sailfish ahead. PBA kept the pressure up on the Sharks, and in the 59th minute, Lucas Coutinho blasted in the Sailfish's fourth goal.
 
NSU played strong down the stretch, firing a pair of shots high of the crossbar over the next six minutes. However, the Sailfish hunkered down on a two-score lead and kept the Sharks from making an attempt at goal for the final 25 minutes.
 
The Sharks finished the match with six shots, three on goal, and four saves from Taylor Bailey (Fr., Greeneville, Tenn.). For the Sailfish, it was the third-straight match in which they scored four goals against a Sunshine State Conference opponent.
 
The Sharks will end their four-match road trip on Saturday, Oct. 10 against Saint Leo at 7 p.m.