Miami, Fla. - St. Thomas Men's Soccer lost Monday evening, 0-2, in a weather-shortened game at Florida International.
The game started in a one-hour lightning delay, with the match starting at 8:00 pm instead of the scheduled 7:00 pm. The Panthers controlled the ball offensively for the first 10 minutes of the game, but the Bobcats were able to prevent any early scoring. FIU got their first goal across in the 35th minute, when Ezequiel Gonzalez snuck behind the Bobcats' defense on a good cross by Mateo Stickler. The Bobcats had a couple of close opportunities near the end of the first half, but they were unable to find the back of the net.
FIU was able to get an insurance goal not long after the start of the second half, as Jad Benjelloun scored on a shot near the edge of the box in the 54th minute. The Bobcats did not have many opportunities after that goal. After a Panthers' yellow card in the 76th minute, the game was called due to additional lightning in the area.
The Bobcats finished the game with four total shots, while the Panthers had nine shots. Okan Erkocu, Maksym Osadchyi, and Chris Stafford played all 76 minutes of the contest for St. Thomas. Matais Fuentes saw his first action in goal this season, as he relieved Ricardo Delgado in the second half.
The Bobcats will travel up to Marietta, Georgia, for two games on the campus of Life University. They will face Faulkner University in a neutral-site game on Friday, September 4, at 5:00 pm. St. Thomas will face Life University on the trip as well, with that contest scheduled for Sunday, September 6, at 3:30 pm.
