PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. | Florida Memorial (1-5-2, 1-1) dropped a thrilling 3-2 contest to the sixth ranked team in the NAIA, Keiser University, at Broward College South in Sun Conference action.
The defending NAIA champions struck first with an early goal from Adrian Camacho in the third minute of action off of a set piece that bent around the Lions wall and snuck in the near post from just outside the penalty area. Minutes later, FMU's leading goal-scorer,
Brad Tulley, had a brilliant shot that bounced off the left post. However, in the 23rd minute,
Alejandro Caicedo found the back of the net for the equalizer with a perfectly weighted left-footed shot that sailed over the goalkeeper's head into the far left corner of the goal.
Early in the second half, the Lions were forced to play a man down after Steven Jean-Pierre picked up his second yellow card of the match. On the ensuing play, Keiser striker Camacho nearly scored another goal from a set piece, but teammate Alpha Faye followed the shot attempt with a quick header, beating FMU's goalkeeper on the far post to take a 2-1 lead. Moments later, following a yellow card in the box, Lions freshman keeper
Juan Palacio forced Lucas Jacobs' penalty kick far left, keeping the match in distance for Florida Memorial. However, Seahawks (5-0-2, 2-0) striker Jacobs got his revenge in the 55th minute with a goal from his left foot to lift his team to a two-goal margin.
FMU continued to battle despite trailing 3-1 midway through the second half, and the hard work paid off in the 63rd minute when Tulley played a perfect through-ball to super-sub
Johan Godoy (who just entered the match) as he buried the ball in the back of the net, cutting the deficit to just one. Despite high pressure from the Lions, the Seahawks possessed the ball late in the match as they played with an extra man advantage, not allowing FMU to find the equalizer in what proved to be one of the most exciting contests all season.
FMU goalkeeper Palacio finished with six saves, yet allowed three goals in the loss. As a team, Florida Memorial produced five total shots with three on target, while their counterpart generated 17 total shots with 10 on target.
The Lions were called for a total of 16 fouls while Keiser finished the match with just five fouls.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, October 8 as they travel to Georgia to face SCAD Savannah in Sun Conference action.
