WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic men's soccer team returned home to face off against the Rollins Tars tonight. The No. 16 ranked Sailfish jumped out to a 2-0 lead before having to score late to defeat the Tars 3-2. The win takes the 'Fish to 7-1 on the season and 4-1 in Sunshine State Conference play.

The two sides had a feeling out process for the first 30 minutes of the opening half as neither side was able to create many quality looks at goal. The Tars had more shots in the first half but PBA goalie Guillermo Falo was never really troubled as he was forced into just one comfortable save from long range in the first half. As is the norm for the Sailfish, they went into their deep and talented bench making seven substitutions.

Despite not getting many clean looks onto the Rollins goal, the Sailfish controlled 66 percent of the possession in the opening half. It was the second unit for the 'Fish that finally found the breakthrough in the 35th minute. Giancarlo Triulzi battled with three Tars on the right-wing and was able to get a ball into the box. The ball found its way out to Tim Noeding at the top of the box and his well-placed right-footed shot found the left side of the net. The goal was Noedings second of the season as Triulzi added his third assist and the Sailfish took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.

Head coach Brian McMahon and his coaching staff liked what they saw out of their second unit as they started the second half with the same group that ended the first. The decision paid off instantly as PBA doubled its lead just three minutes into the second half. Bicho Barquin used his speed to get behind the Tars backline and he drove towards the right side of the Rollins box. He played a ball across to Triulzi who's one-touch finish found the back of the net. 

The Sailfish looked like they were on their way to a comfortable victory as they controlled the pace and possession of the game in the second half. Unfortunately, the Sailfish made two big mistakes that allowed the Tars back into the game. The Sailfish were passing the ball around their backline in the 71st minute when goalie Guillermo Falo misplaced a pass to Rollins striker Nazar Tsaruk who put the ball into an empty net. It was the first error of the season for Falo who has been spectacular for the 'Fish in their previous two shutouts of top-15 SSC opponents. Those performances earned him the conference Defensive Player of the Week, but another error in the 79th minute allowed Rollins to complete the comeback and tie the game 2-2. A long ball over the top of the PBA defense was swung on and missed by a charging Falo and Tsaruk put the ball into an open net for the second time.

The game had flipped upside down for the Sailfish in a matter of minutes, and they had just ten minutes remaining to take the lead again. When the opportunity presented itself, the Sailfish didn't let it pass. in the 86th minute Twan Nieboer played a through ball to a streaking Federico Serra who's left-footed shot snuck under the Rollins keeper in a one-on-one situation that put PBA up for good.    

After back to back ranked road wins over Tampa and Nova Southeastern where PBA dominated to a combined 7-0 scoreline, the Sailfish showed their resiliency and toughness to fight back from self-inflicted mistakes and still secure a victory over a side that entered the game in fourth place in the SSC. Overall, PBA controlled 62 percent of the possession while the two sides were even in total shots.

Up next, the Sailfish face their most difficult test of the season when they host SSC rival Lynn. The Fighting Knights are currently ranked No. 3 in the country and sit atop the SSC standings with a 7-1 record. The two sides who have won every regular-season conference title since 2016 square off at the Rinker Athletic Campus on Oct. 13.