MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — Palm Beach Atlantic University, ranked 19th nationally, defeated Barry University 3-1 on Wednesday at Buccaneer Field. A second-half surge saw the Sailfish score all three of their goals, overturning a first-half deficit. Barry initially led with a first-half goal, but the 'Fish responded with a game-winning goal in the second half, sealing their victory.
The first half began with the Sailfish's defense holding strong, as
Flavio Giannini recorded multiple saves, including a vital stop against Lucas Costa early in the match. Despite efforts from Livio Von Holzen and
Juan Hermoso to break the deadlock, Barry took the lead with a goal by Julien Laborde in the 25th minute, assisted by Costa. The 'Fish continued to press, with shots from
Rufus Roth and
Marian Rutkowski testing Barry's defense, but the half closed with the 'Fish trailing 1-0.
The second half was pivotal for the 'Fish as they took control early with
Tin Vastic converting a penalty kick in the 50th minute. Vastic extended the advantage with another goal at the 58th minute, further solidifying the 'Fish's hold on the match.
The Sailfish maintained pressure as Von Holzen added a third goal in the 77th minute, making it 3-1. Despite Barry's attempts to close the gap, the 'Fish's defensive efforts, including key saves by Giannini, kept the score unchanged. The half concluded with the 'Fish comfortably ahead, securing a decisive 3-1 victory.
Giannini recorded 11 saves during the match, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts. Vastic scored two goals, including the game-winner, on five shots, ensuring a strong offensive performance. Von Holzen added a goal to the tally with one of his two shots finding the back of the net.