MELBOURNE, Fla. --- The Auburn Montgomery men's soccer team fought hard, but were outscored 2-0 over the final 45 minutes of play against Florida Tech on Friday, Sept. 13, proving costly in their 3-1 setback to the Panthers. 
 
NOTEWORTHY
- With the loss, AUM's record drops to 0-3 to start the season. 
- Freshman midfielder Rasheed Bolaji made his Warhawk debut in the contest.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Alexander Wagner accounted for AUM's lone goal of the night, marking for his first of the 2019 season. 
- Phillip Spickenbaum picked up his first assist of the year in the contest, while also registering a shot on goal.
- Arnaud Baron took a team-high three shots, with one coming on frame. 
- Thomas Carlile and Alexis Arriaga both also tallied a shot on goal on the evening. 
- In goal for AUM, Braedan Passalis (0-2) picked up four saves in 90 minutes of action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AUM notched the game's first goal as spectators were still finding their seats, as a free kick by Spickenbaum from just outside the box would find Wagner's head for the goal in minute number five of the match and put AUM up 1-0. 
- The Panthers would respond ten minutes later, however, and bring the match to a 1-1 tie. With possession near AUM's goal, FIT would knock the ball around inside the box several times before a deflected shot would ultimately lead to the equalizer in minute number 15. 
- Both teams would see opportunities to score in the waning minutes of the half, but could not push one across as the score would read 1-1 at halftime. 
- Florida Tech would waste no time cracking the board in half number two, as the Panthers would push across the eventual game-winner in minute number 49 on a free kick to take a 2-1 lead. 
- The Warhawks would go on to put up three shots on frame over the game's final 40 minutes, but could not find the back of the net.
- The Panthers would deliver the dagger in the game's final minute of play on an intercepted pass right in front of AUM's goal, giving way to the 3-1 final score. 
 
QUOTING THE COACH
"It's never nice to lose, but I am very proud of these lads and the fight and effort they put in tonight," Head Coach Matthew Thorne said. "We took the lead against a quality team, and went toe-to-toe until the 90th minute. We'll have to reflect, look on what we can improve and go again."
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Florida Tech outshot AUM in the game, 17-9. Of the Panther's 17 shots, 11 came in half number two. 
- Seven of the Panther's shots came on frame, compared to five for the Warhawks. 
- The Warhawks took two corner kicks in the match, while the Panthers took nine. 
- AUM was whistled for 9 fouls, while FIT was tagged for 13. 
 
UP NEXT
- The Warhawks will wrap up their two-game road trip in the sunshine state with a neutral-site matchup against Florida Southern on Sunday, Sept. 15 from Rick Stottler Field on the Campus of Florida Tech. Match time is slated for 1:30 p.m. (CST) 
 
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