LAKE WALES, Fla. – Southeastern University used a solid defensive effort and found the back of the net in each half as the Fire blanked Warner University, 2-0, in Sun Conference men's soccer action this evening.
SEU jumped on its host from the start as Kory Nekoloff took a pass from Victor Cavalcante and made it count for a 1-0 lead only 1:08 into the night. After Warner missed two and SEU one of its own penalty kicks, Enrico Lazzari netted a late insurance score at 76:35 and the defense held from there for the shut out.
With the victory, SEU runs its season record to a solid 7-3-2 mark and completes the sweep of Warner (3-8-3). The Fire won the season's first match on Sept. 25, 4-1, and have now prevailed in each of the last five meetings.
Nekoloff and Cavalcante continued to pace the Fire in season points. Nekoloff punched in his team-best sixth goal and 11th point, while Cavalcante reached double figure points with his assist. Lazzari's goal was his third. Keeper Esteban Navarrete posted six saves of the six shots he faced in 90 minutes.
Riding the early Nekoloff goal, the Fire offense kept attacking to add to the slim edge as Cavalcante (13:40), Sebastian Riebartsch (14:17) and Nekoloff (27:29) fired shots on goal. Warner had a big opportunity to tie the match at 36:55 but its penalty kick attempt went wide.
Both the Royals (65:03) and the Fire (68:20) missed on second-half penalty kicks, but Lazzari eight minutes later sealed the victory with his goal. Navarrete turned away the final Warner shot at 79:06.
SEU stays on the road where it will play at Florida Memorial on Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m..
