SAINT LEO, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic men's soccer team won 1-0 over Saint Leo on Saturday. The Sailfish kept Saint Leo off the scoreboard behind six saves in goal, with four coming before halftime and two after it.
Kobi Thomas scored the lone goal of the game from the penalty spot in the second half.
The Sailfish created the first sustained push of the first half, getting a
Kobi Thomas shot saved in the third minute, adding an
Ole Lichter attempt and earning two corners by the 11th minute while the match remained 0-0. Saint Leo later put pressure on with four shots on frame, but
Flavio Giannini saved each one to keep the 'Fish level.Â
The half also tightened through a foul-heavy stretch, with the Sailfish whistled several times between the 16th and 26th minutes before
Robi Lukau and
Marcel Duffau supplied later chances. The 'Fish finished the half with four shots and two corners, and the teams went into halftime scoreless.
The Sailfish broke through in the 69th minute when Thomas converted a penalty kick, giving the visitors the only goal of the second half. Earlier, the 'Fish opened the half with steady pressure, getting shots from Thomas and
Fabio Reck, two corner kicks at 50:10 and another Thomas attempt by the 53rd minute before adding corners in the 61st and 62nd minutes. Reck forced a save at 68:02, and Thomas followed with the penalty goal at 68:35.
Saint Leo pushed back with a pair of shots on goal after the score, but Giannini made saves in the 71st and 86th minutes as the Sailfish worked through a foul-heavy closing stretch. The 'Fish finished off the match with the 1-0 lead and took home the three points.
Thomas scored the penalty kick game-winning goal and led the Sailfish with four shots, putting two on goal. Giannini recorded six saves over 90 minutes and finished with a shutout.
The Sailfish return home for their next match on Wednesday night with Nova Southeastern. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. in West Palm Beach at the Rinker Athletic Campus.
