Men's Soccer Set to Battle Conquistadors

Lakeland, Fla. - The Southeastern men's soccer team is set to play its second game on the SEU Soccer Field after winning its home opener 2-1 in an overtime thriller versus Truett-McConnell. Senior midfielder Pedro Ivo Dias netted the game winning goal in the 99^th minute off a deflected pass from 20 yards out to give the Fire its second walk off victory of the season. SEU has not lost a home opener since 2012. If Southeastern defeats Florida National on Saturday it would be the seventh straight win for the program on its home pitch.

GAME: (15) Southeastern (3-4) vs. Florida National University (5-1) | Saturday 3 p.m.

COVERAGE: Watch    Stats

WORKING OVERTIME: SEU has seen four of its first seven games go to extra periods, which ties the Fire with three other schools in NAIA Division I for the most overtime matches played this season thus far. Southeastern holds a 2-2 record in matches that go to an extra period. It has not taken long for the outcome of games to be decided in such matches for the Fire, as its average length of time played in extra periods is 3 minutes and 34 seconds. With the win over TMU, the Fire improved its all-time overtime game record to 14-7-5 since joining the NAIA in 2009.

RIO CONNECTION: There are three players who are tied as the leading scorer for the Fire. Two of those three are junior forward Tauan Salgado and senior midfielder Pedro Ivo Dias. The two Rio de Janeiro natives have combined for six goals, two assists and 14 points on the season. Salgado and Ivo Dias also account for 35.5 percent of the team's shots on goal and both have netted game winning goals in overtime this season.

PREVIOUS MEETING: The Fire defeated the Conquistadors 4-1 last season on September 5^th. Sophomore midfielder Jonathan Jimenez came off the bench as a freshman and netted two goals in three minutes to power SEU to the victory.

THE CONQUISTADORS: After dropping their season opener 1-0 to Oklahoma Wesleyan, the sixth ranked team in the NAIA, Florida National has won six straight to improve to an impressive 6-1 on the season. The Conquistadors have repeatedly knocked off quality teams, such as No. 3 junior college Eastern Florida State, and fellow Sun Conference member St. Thomas. FNU has had five different players record a multi-goal game this season. The team's leading scorer is freshman forward Gabriel Miranda, who leads the team with four goals scored. The Conquistadors are coached by former Florida Memorial coach Fernando Valenzuela, who is in his first season with the program.