HIALEAH, Fla. (Sept. 20, 2024) - Florida National University's women's soccer team claimed its first win of 2024 on day two of the FNU Classic at Milander Park. The Conquistadors are hosting two other Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) men's and women's teams, with Florida College and Spartanburg Methodist College making the trip to South Florida.

FNU (1-3-0) conquered the SMC Pioneers (7-2-0) 3-0 in the third match of the classic to earn head coach Ruy Da Silva his first win with the program. FNU controlled the time of possession and scored all three of its goals in the first half. Coming into the contest, the Pioneers had won seven straight contests. This includes a 3-2 victory over Florida College to open the FNU Classic the previous day. Boasting a 2-0 conference record, SMC was a formidable opponent for an FNU team looking to open CAC play on the right note.

In her first game back in a Conquistador uniform, graduate student Bethania Pires da Cruz connected on a perfectly placed ball from Delmis Reyes Amaya to give FNU a 1-0 lead six minutes into the contest. Gabriela Bortolon Brito doubled FNU's advantage with a stunning goal several yards past the 18-yard box seven minutes later. 

Tempers began to flair between forward Natalya Laura Paula and SMC's Alexa Ostos when both players got tangled up attacking a ball. The small skirmish between these two stars was quickly extinguished after the head referee issued a yellow card to both players.

FNU's final goal of the afternoon was off the foot of Reyes Amaya with five minutes remaining in the half. Goalkeeper Hailey Llijin had one of her best games this season, posting six saves and collecting her first shutout in a Conquistador kit.

SMC had some clean looks in the second half but could not connect with the back of the net, including a shot from Camila Moscoso that sailed over the crossbar to the deflation of the Pioneer bench. Despite its efforts, SMC fell for just the second time this season to close out its trip to the Sunshine State. 

Up Next: The Conquistadors' final game of the FNU Classic is set for tomorrow at 7 p.m. versus CAC rival Florida College.