WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Palm Beach Atlantic defeated Barry 1-0 on Wednesday in its first conference match of the season.
A first-half goal stood as the difference as the Sailfish kept Barry scoreless over 90 minutes. The Sailfish outshot Barry 17-12, put six shots on goal, and got three saves from their goalkeeper in the shutout. The 17 shots marked a season high for PBA.
Kobi Thomas gave the Sailfish the breakthrough at 37:53, scoring the half's only goal to put the home side ahead 1-0. Earlier, the 'Fish absorbed Barry's opening push, with
Flavio Giannini making saves at 3:12 and 7:38, while
Ole Lichter supplied two first-half attempts for the Sailfish. The half tightened through a physical stretch that included a run of fouls and cards before the 'Fish created late looks from
Robi Lukau and
Livio von Holzen ahead of Thomas' goal. Barry earned a corner and had a shot after the goal, but the Sailfish kept the clean sheet and carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Sailfish held Barry off the board in the second half and closed out a 1-0 win while taking 12 shots of their own after halftime.
Niklas Mahler had an attempt miss high in the 49th minute before the 'Fish built pressure around the hour mark, including
Fabio Reck's shot, Lichter's effort off the top woodwork, and saved attempts from Thomas and Lichter.
Barry pushed back with a corner and three shots between the 63rd and 70th minutes, but the Sailfish kept the shutout intact. The 'Fish continued to press from the 71st through 77th minutes, getting a corner and three saved shots from
Clement Scaccia and von Holzen, then added late attempts from Thomas and
Quinlan van Arkel before the match ended at 1-0.
Thomas scored an unassisted goal, finished with three shots and two on goal, and was credited with the game-winning goal. Giannini played all 90 minutes in goal, made three saves, and recorded a shutout. von Holzen shared the team lead with four shots and put two on frame. Lichter also tallied four shots, including one on goal.
PBA is back in action on Saturday when it travels to face Rollins in Winter Park, Fla. at 6 p.m.
