LAKELAND, Fla.- The No. 10 Southeastern University men's soccer team earned a gritty win on Senior Night over the Thomas University Night Hawks 1-0 to improve to 13-1-2 and 6-1-1 in Sun Conference play.
On a night where eight graduating players were honored, senior forward
Jackson Darnell provided the heroics for the Fire, netting the game-winning goal for SEU in the 83
rd minute.
"The Sun Conference is one of the top conferences in the country and tonight was an example," shared head coach
Clay Roberts. "The first half was tough, but we gritted it out and were deserving in the second half and so happy for
Jackson Darnell to get that goal on Senior Night."
Both teams battled in what was a back-and-forth physical battle. A total of 43 fouls were committed between the two teams and six yellow cards were put in the books.
The Night Hawks held the shot advantage in the first half over the Fire 6-4, as the teams remained deadlocked 0-0 heading into the half.
The Fire finally broke through in the 83
rd minute, as Darnell buried a volley in the box from senior midfielder
Craig Barker into the back of the net for the lone goal of the match. The goal was Darnell's third of the season. The assist was Barker's 12
th on the year.
"I felt like we were creating the better chances throughout the game," shared Darnell. "Peanut (
Eric Ugarte) delivered a beautiful ball to Barker who put it on the mark to me and I just had to finish it".
Senior goalkeeper
Logan Whitney recorded two clutch saves down the stretch for the Fire in the final two minutes of play, including one as time expired. Whitney finished with five saves on the night in his fifth clean sheet of the season.
The Fire look to close out the regular season with a road victory over the Florida Memorial University Lions on Saturday. Match time in Miami Gardens is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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