Men’s Soccer: Thomas Gallitz goal gives Owls 1-0 victory versus North Florida
Freshman scores lone goal during rain-soaked senior night.
October 29, 2015
Men’s soccer earned their second win of the season Wednesday night against University of North Florida, beating them 1-0.
Before the game, the Owls (2-11-2) held their annual Senior Night. Midfielders Ramon Whittaker, Daniel Montoya, Ronald Garcia and defenders Patrick Darby and Michael Quinn all were honored before the game in a ceremony with their families.
Head soccer coach Kos Donev said of the night: “It’s always a pleasure, especially when we’re able to come here and produce a result for them where they have a good, positive experience and a taste in their mouth to say ‘we won our last game on our home field.’”
After a scoreless first half and an hour-long rain delay, FAU scored the game’s first goal in the 56th minute on a header from freshman midfielder Thomas Gallitz to take the lead 1-0.
“It was a set piece play we had been working on for the last three or four days and it finally worked out for us,” Donev said. “Obviously we found a player and he was able to get up in the air above everyone else. It was sweet.”
The goal was assisted by Quinn, who took the corner kick.
Junior goalie Phillip Hitpass had two saves in the shutout, his second win of the season. Ospreys goalie Todd Pedersen did not record a save during the game.
With the loss, UNF falls to 7-6-1 on the year and breaks a two-game winning streak. Meanwhile, FAU has won two out of three games for the first time since 2013.
The Owls will play their final game of the season on Nov. 6 at the University of New Mexico at 7 p.m.
Tory Fernandez is a contributing writer with the University Press. To contact him on this or other articles, email him at [email protected].