WEST POINT, Ga.—After carrying a 2-0 advantage into the 65
th minute, the Fire gave up three goals to Point University in a 22-minute span to lose 3-2.
Southeastern started each half in commanding fashion. Though goalkeeper
Jorge Navarrete was tested early, the Fire found the back of the net within the first five minutes of both halves to open up a 2-0 lead.
In just the fifth minute,
Gustavo Rodrigues sent a corner kick to the near post, which defender
Caue Salgado headed home with pace for his first goal in 28 matches with Southeastern.
The advantage was doubled less than three minutes into the second half when
Jonathan Jimenez booted a cross from the left wing that was met by
Tauan Salgado, who flicked the ball over the onrushing Point keeper and into the back of the net for his third goal of the year. Jimenez tallied his fourth assist of the season on the play, a team-high.
The Skyhawks, who out-shot Southeastern 9-3 in the first half, were not without their chances in the first 45 minutes. In between the two Fire goals, Juan Gomez split two defenders and was brought down in the box, earning a penalty kick for Point. Gomez tried to trick Navarrete by going down the middle, but the Plant City, Florida native was equal to the task, keeping the Skyhawks scoreless heading into halftime.
It took Point 12 shots to finally beat Navarrete, who blocked four shots in the contest. In the 67
th minute, the Skyhawks began their comeback, as Khalil Toure sent a ball into the box from the left wing. The ball ricocheted around in the area and was eventually blasted home by Amadeu Guimaraes from about ten yards out.
Guimaraes would add his second of the match merely four minutes later with a clinical finish off of the half volley, which bounced in the six-yard box and narrowly eluded the reach of Navarrete.
With only two minutes left in the game, Point's Jonathan curled an in-swinging cross with his right foot that Juan Domingo nicked over Navarrete's outstretched hand to complete the rally.
Overall, the match was fairly even statistically. Though the Skyhawks recorded 15 shots to the Fire's 13, each team registered seven on target with two assists.
In their next match, Southeastern will host Georgia Gwinnett as part of the first SEU Invitational. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 2
nd.
