ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Matteo Costa continued to add to his highlight reel, while the Flagler College men's soccer team held strong in the final stretch to secure a 4-3 non-conference victory over visiting Barry University Tuesday at Saints Field.
"Proud of the team for grinding out a win tonight against a great Barry team," Flagler head coach
Chris Kranjc said. "Matteo continues to score important goals for us, but we are really happy with how we defended in the last 10 minutes to get the win."
The win for the Saints (5-6) snapped a two-match losing streak and evened the series with Barry (4-6-1) at 2-2-1 overall. Now, Flagler turns its attention back to Peach Belt Conference play, welcoming Clayton State University to Saints Field Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
In 30 minutes played, Costa did what he has done all season: score. The senior's first goal added onto the lead — which
Max Lambertz was able to get via a header from
Joeran Osland's corner kick in the seventh minute — in the 40th minute via a through ball from
Jonas Schmitt.
After the Buccaneers knotted the score before half, Costa answered seven minutes out of intermission in fashion. The Italian midfielder received
Jared Fuentes' assist with a bicycle-kick goal as it fluttered into the left corner and put the Saints ahead, 3-1, in the 52nd minute.
Daniel Schaal joined Toby Fura with a Bucs' goal as both came from rebounded shots — thanks to Juan Valiente and Roy Shohat — to put the away team back within reach at the 60-minute mark. But nine minutes later, Schmitt was on the passing end again as he used a free kick to set up
Marc Birkelund's sixth goal up the right-side of the field.
The freshman dribbled up and crossed past the goalie to give the Saints another two-score lead in the 69th minute. After Timmy Nicholson placed the ball into the middle of the net via Estefano Savietto in the 73rd minute, Saints keeper
Andrea Lubbia and the defense held strong to secure the victory.
Overall, Barry out-shot Flagler 26-to-13 with 11 of those on goal compared to five, while the Bucs had 13 corner kicks to the Saints' five. Lubbia swatted away eight saves on the night, while Barry goalkeeper Nils Buecheler had one.
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