AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-2, 0-1) at St. Thomas University Bobcats (1-1, 1-0)
When: Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Where: St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Fla. | STU Soccer Field
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last Meeting: Oct. 19, 2019, Loss 0-6
Live Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/stu/
Live Stats: https://stubobcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Just two games into the 2020 season and the dreaded injury bug has already taken a sizable bite out of Florida Memorial University's men's soccer team, but the Lions will be looking to capture its first road victory of the year when it travels to St. Thomas University Wednesday night.
 
The game, which is always billed as the "Battle of Miami Gardens" whenever the Lions and Bobcats square off, is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas University's soccer field.
 
FMU (0-2, 0-1 Sun Conference) lost goalkeeper Keanan Ainge to injury during the team's match at Ave Maria University this past weekend. Without Ainge – already the only available goalie on the roster – Lions head coach Connor Campbell had to pull defender Lautaro Blasco from the field and put him in the net.
 
Unfortunately, Blasco too sustained an injury during the match against the Gyrenes, meaning Campbell had to shuffle his lineup again during practice leading up to Wednesday to find replacement goalkeeper.
 
In St. Thomas (1-1, 1-0), the Lions will be facing a team that will be playing its third straight home game and is coming off a 2-0 win over Sun Conference foe Webber International University. The Bobcats have been a "feast or famine" type of team up to this point in the season – being shutout in its season-opening loss and then shutting out the Warriors this past Saturday.
 
Perhaps the best defense for the Lions against St. Thomas will be a good offense. Florida Memorial showed it can be fairly potent offensively in the right situations this past weekend. Tarjay Russell and Delroy Anderson combined for an exciting goal on a fast break.
 
Aside from Anderson and Russell, Florida Memorial should look to senior Nicolas Martinez to generate scoring opportunities. Martinez, a preseason Sun Conference Player to Watch, has the physical tools to either create shots for himself or teammates.