LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Men's Soccer heads back on the road for a crucial two-match stretch this week, opening Thursday afternoon against Florida College in Temple Terrace before traveling to Lawrenceville on Saturday for a matchup with No. 17 Georgia Gwinnett. With back-to-back non-conference battles on deck, the Fire are looking to generate momentum and test themselves against quality opponents ahead of the upcoming Sun Conference grind.
Fans can follow along with both matches throughout the week. Streaming information for Thursday's contest at Florida College will be announced soon and available along with all coverage links at fire.seu.edu/coverage. Saturday's showdown at Georgia Gwinnett will be streamed live on the GGC Athletics YouTube channel, while live stats for both matches will also be available.
After starting the season with two shutout victories, the Fire enter the week at 2-2-1 overall. Both wins have come away from Lakeland, where SEU is a perfect 2-0-0 on the road this season, while still searching for its first victory at the SEU Soccer Field after an 0-2-1 home start. The Fire are eager to snap a brief two-match skid and recapture their early-season form behind an efficient attack and a resilient defensive unit.
Heating Up in the Sun
Southeastern continues to rank among the Sun Conference's top-performing offenses, sitting fourth in goals per game (2.60) and second in assists per match (2.40), trailing only Keiser in both categories. The Fire also average 7.60 points per game, placing them fourth in the league, and rank fourth in shots per contest (13.6).
Defensively, SEU holds a 1.40 goals-against average, tied for fourth in the conference, and has limited opponents to just 8.6 shots per game. With a .574 shots-on-goal percentage, the Fire remain one of the league's most efficient teams in converting chances and will look to capitalize on that strength during this two-match road trip.
Dieng It Up
Jman Dieng continues to spark the Fire attack, leading the team with three goals and adding two assists for a team-best eight points. With a .429 shooting percentage and .714 shots-on-goal rate, Dieng has been one of SEU's most reliable finishers and has found the net in three separate matches this season.
De Paula Delivers
Matching Dieng's scoring pace,
Fabio De Paula has tallied three goals and an assist, totaling seven points on the year. A proven difference-maker in the attacking third, De Paula provides consistent pressure on opposing defenses and has delivered timely goals in key moments.
Viserta Vision
Midfielder
Guilherme Viserta continues to orchestrate the Fire offense, leading the team with six assists while generating a team-high 20 shot attempts. Among the Sun Conference's most creative playmakers, Viserta's vision and precision passing have been central to Southeastern's 2.6 goals per game average.
Cajuste Coming Through
Efficient and opportunistic,
Carson Cajuste has made the most of his chances with two goals on just five shots, converting at a .400 clip. His ability to find the back of the net with limited touches gives SEU another valuable weapon in a deep offensive rotation.
Lockdown Between the Pipes
Goalkeeper
Noah Murray-Hawkins anchors the Fire defense with 10 saves and a .588 save percentage across five starts. Backed by a disciplined backline that has allowed just 7 goals through five matches, Murray-Hawkins has helped SEU maintain a +6 goal differential while holding opponents to just 1.4 goals per game.
About the Opponent – Florida College
Florida College enters Thursday's match at 1-2-1 overall, opening the season with a 3-0 win at Ave Maria before battling to a 2-2 draw at Dalton State. The Falcons have dropped back-to-back matches to Florida Memorial (4-0) and Thomas (4-0) and are averaging just over one goal per game, led by Leo Hackett with two goals. Goalkeeper Filip Borka has anchored the defense with 17 saves and a .739 save percentage, but the Falcons have conceded 10 goals through four matches.
Southeastern holds a commanding 14-1-0 advantage in the all-time series and enters Thursday's matchup on a five-match winning streak against the Falcons. The Fire are a perfect 8-0-0 at home and 6-1-0 on the road in the series, outscoring Florida College 83-15 overall and averaging 5.53 goals per game. The last meeting came in 2022, a 3-0 SEU victory at the SEU Soccer Field.
About the Opponent – Georgia Gwinnett
Georgia Gwinnett enters Saturday's contest at 3-1 overall, opening the season with three straight wins before falling to Lindsey Wilson (3-1) in its most recent outing. The Grizzlies rolled past Campbellsville (2-0), Brescia (6-1), and Lawrence Tech (3-0) to start the year and have been one of the NAIA's most productive attacks, scoring 12 goals in four matches. Offensively, Luka Colic, Alejandro Contrera, and Ousmane Fall lead the way with three goals apiece, while goalkeeper Victor Darub has posted a .692 save percentage and two shutouts on the year.
Southeastern and Georgia Gwinnett have met five times since 2015, with the Fire still seeking their first victory in the series (0-4-1). The teams played to a 1-1 draw last season in Lakeland, but the Grizzlies won the previous four meetings, outscoring SEU 14-6 overall. Saturday marks the Fire's third trip to Lawrenceville, where they'll look to break through for their first-ever win over GGC.
Looking Ahead
Following this week's road trip, Southeastern returns home to the SEU Soccer Field for a midweek matchup against NCAA Division II opponent Saint Leo University. The Fire and Lions are set to square off on Wednesday, September 17, at 7 p.m. in Lakeland, giving SEU an opportunity to defend its home turf and build momentum heading into the heart of Sun Conference play.
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