FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Senior
Faycal Oulahbib has less than one week remaining in his Nova Southeastern career, but is certainly making the most the time he has left. Entering the night with just one goal on the season, Oulahbib struck twice in the first half before the Sharks survived a late Saint Leo push to hold on for the exciting 2-1 win Wednesday at the NSU Soccer Complex.
The victory not only bumped the Lions out of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament race, but also helped Nova Southeastern improve to 4-10 on the year and surpass 2015's SSC win total with its second 'W' in its last three matches.
"We were actually able to see a game out tonight, and I think that shows the maturity of the team from the start of the season to where we are now," said head coach
Matt Watts. "I think it's great momentum for the program. The boys have really worked hard and haven't given up. I'm proud of them for everything they achieved tonight and we look to kick on this Friday and finish the season on another positive note."
On the receiving end of some spectacular passing, Oulahbib struck life into the crowd quickly in only the 12
th minute of the match. A long ball sent ahead by
Nate Matthews found the foot of
Bestun Mohammed, who then fed Oulahbib for for the wide open look to put the Sharks in front 1-0.
Saint Leo didn't waste much time to muster up a response, however. Less than five minutes after Oulahbib's opening score, the Lions' Carlos Moncayo hit Brandon Rivera perfectly in stride in the 18-yard box before Rivera beat the outstretched arms of Shark's keeper
Nico Rosiglioni to knot the game up.
Oulahbib proved there was still plenty of offense in the tank, though, and in the 24
th minute sent a one-touch score into the back of the net after
Filippo Mancini laid off a perfect left-footed through ball down the middle of the Saint Leo defense.
With the 2-1 advantage, Rosiglioni decided to take care of the Sharks the rest of the way. The native of Padua, Italy recorded five huge saves in the victory, including multiple diving stops and a timely effort in the 87
th minute to turn away one final Lions' surge.
NSU will celebrate its senior class in
Santiago Camacho,
Jose Giron,
Viktor Jonsson, Oulahbib,
Caue Rodrigues and
Michael Rosario in a ceremony prior to kickoff Friday against Florida National. For complete coverage of the matchup, follow along on Twitter at @NSUMSoccer and by clicking on the provided links on the
schedule page.
