Friday, November 04, 2005

Boiling Springs, N.C. – Top-Seeded Florida Atlantic defeated Jacksonville 2-0 to advance to their fourth Atlantic Sun Championship match in the past six seasons.

Katri Nokso-Koivisto gave Florida Atlantic all the offense they would need in the 37th minute after collecting a cross in the box and drilled past JU goalkeeper Michelle Kmiotek.

The Owls (15-3-1) carried the bulk of the possession and scoring chances during the entire match. Within a five-minute span, FAU created three legitimate scoring opportunities. In the 12th minute, a bad clearance led to a near open net chance for A-Sun Player of the Year Susanna Lehtinen, but JU’s Amber Otto cleared the ball of the line. A diving stop by Kmiotek on Alicia Tirelli’s shot from just inside the box kept the scoresheet blank until Nokso-Koivisito’s score.

In the second half, Natalie D’Oria nearly put the match away in the 57th minute, but Kmiotek knocked the shot over the crossbar. The Dolphins (8-10-3) began throwing players forward and put some pressure on the FAU defense before finally surrendering a second goal in the 83rd minute on Tirelli’s score in the box. JU’s defense, led by Kirby Hutton who held Lehtinen scoreless, gave the Dolphins an opportunity to pull the upset.

Florida Atlantic posted their eighth consecutive shutout and ran their unbeaten streak to 14 straight matches. The Owls will be shooting for their first Atlantic Sun Tournament title and berth in the NCAA College Cup.

FAU will face the winner of tonight’s second semifinal match between #2 Campbell and #6 Stetson.