BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham Friday evening by a final score of 2-1 in overtime. The win moves the Knights to 2-0-1 on the season.
The victory marks the 200th in Fairleigh Dickinson head coach Seth Roland's 22-year career with the Knights and his 320th win overall. Ahu Obhakhan (4) and Daniel Lasarte (1) provided the goals for the Knights. Jahmali Waite stopped four of five shots in goal to earn his second win of the year, while the Knights outshot the Blazers 13-8 on the evening.
"That was a game for the ages," Roland said. "What an emotional and inspiring win, especially after a difficult evening of weather delays and injuries. But the guys showed incredible perseverance, spirit, and unity battling and competing hard in the face of those challenges."
The FDU attack put the Blazers on their heels from the opening kickoff Friday evening, testing the UAB defense with a pair of quick scoring chances in the 9'. Jeremy Despringre directed a strike on net that was scooped up by the Blazers keeper, while moments later Obhakhan steered his effort just wide of the net.
The Knights had an opportunity to open the scoring yet again in the 19' after they were awarded a corner, however the UAB backline defended the set piece well and the score held at 0-0.
The Blazers managed a few chances of their own on the counter, but before they could cash in lightning strikes caused a stoppage of play.
After a delay of roughly two and a half hours, both squads re-took the pitch, where it was Obhakhan yet again striking first for the Knights. Alvaro Rubio played a nice ball into the box which Obhakhan neatly tucked away to give the Knights a 1-0 lead
The Knights carried the 1-0 advantage into the second half, where the Blazers would again try to generate some momentum and sustained pressure on the attack.
After failing to cash in on a corner in the 62', UAB forward Gael Mabiala finally leveled for the Blazers in the 66' with a strike off of a penalty from the top of the box.
The Knights depth was tested again in the 70' when Waite was forced to leave the game in goal, bringing on sophomore keeper Michael Mejia for his first taste of FDU action. Mejia did not miss a beat in his first minutes ever at the Division I level, making a number of solid saves while commanding his area confidently on crosses.
FDU kept pushing for the win for the remainder of regulation, creating several dangerous chances, however none found the back of the net. Daniel Lasarte would take a late corner for the Knights, and while he could not help engineer the go-ahead goal before the end of regulation, he would prove to be the hero the Knights needed.
In the opening minute of overtime, a violent challenge on Obhakhan saw him carried off the field for the remainder of the game, while UAB was reduced to 10 men with the red card issued to their defender.
Just eight minutes into the overtime period, the Knights finally found the answer.
Fredinho Mompremier won the ball in FDU's half of the field and carried it for 40 yards on a breakout run before playing a beautiful through ball wide to Jacob Labovitz, who wasted little time surgically crossing the ball perfectly into the path of Lasarte who buried it for the winner behind the outstretched FAU keeper.
"Ahu continued his torrid goal-scoring form, while the midfield trio of Rubio, Shefqeti and Despringre put in an incredible amount of quality work on both sides of the ball. The back four was defensively sound for the third consecutive game, and Fredinho showed his ability to take over a game when inspired to do so," Roland said.
The Knights return to action on Sunday when they take on Memphis at 11 a.m.
