WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – For the second straight year the Palm Beach Atlantic men's soccer team was unable to advance past Lynn in the NCAA South Region Tournament, falling in penalty kicks 5-4 after the match was tied 1-1 after 110 minutes.
PBA got on the board minutes before halftime as Guillermo Deal was taken down in the box by Lynn's keeper Roberto Bazzichetto and PBA was awarded a penalty kick. Alex Stoiljkovic stepped to the spot and delivered the only goal of the first 45 minutes, giving PBA the 1-0 lead.
Early in the second half it was Jack Watson from Lynn who got free in behind the Sailfish defense. A nice touch by Watson allowed him to control the ball and beat a charging Patrick Seuffert to tie things at 1-1.
The Sailfish created chances throughout the course of the evening, taking 15 shots in total including nine after halftime. Lynn had 10 shots in the match and just five after halftime. PBA found space in the midfield and took several strikes from distance but was unable to put them on target.
At the end of 110 minutes the Sailfish and Fighting Knights went to penalty kicks with PBA stepping up first. The first three for each side were converted as Jack Burrows, Blake Barribeau and Claudio Rivadeneira made their attempts for PBA. BAzzichetto saved the fourth attempt, by Callum Chapman-Page, putting the pressure on the fifth kick taker, Alex Stoiljkovic.
After Lynn went ahead 4-3, Stoiljkovic buried an attempt from the spot for the second time on the evening to put the pressure back on Lynn. Jack Watson's attempt was saved by Seuffert to force the penalties into sudden death. Guillermo Deal hit the post for the 'Fish as rain continued to pour as it did most of the evening. Mark Faeth stepped up for Lynn and converted to send the Fighting Knights into the next round where they'll take on Barry.
The Sailfish wrap up the season 19-1-1 overall and claimed their second Sunshine State Conference Regular Season title with a 9-1 record in league play. PBA went on to defeat Barry in the SSC Tournament Championship Match to earn their first tournament title.
