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Florida National University

Scoreboard

FNU men's soccer in a huddle before NCF game 2025
Lucas Lopes
0
Florida National (FL) FNU (11-3-4)
0
Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE (10-7-2)
Florida National (FL) FNU
(11-3-4)
0
Final
0
Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE
(10-7-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Florida National (FL) FNU 0 0 0 0 0
Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Brenda Bogle

Florida National eliminated from CAC Tournament after a close penalty shoot-out

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (Nov. 9, 2025) — Florida National (11-3-4) found itself on the wrong side of a penalty shoot-out against Bellevue University (10-7-2) for the second time in three seasons. A 5-4 win in PKs for the Bruins sent FNU home after an instant classic in the semifinal round of the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Tournament. 

In the first, FNU was the dominant force on offense with six shots, four of which were on goal. CAC second team honoree Filipe Sette Ribeiro led this charge with a pair of shots that made Bellevue goalkeeper Kaden Simpson get into the mix from the opening whistle. Simpson was a wall in the opener, tallying four crucial saves to keep FNU off the board. Bellevue was under huge pressure from FNU's forwards and committing uncharacteristic turnovers in dangerous spots.

Newcomer of the Year David Luque Rivero was notably knocking on the door with a shot that said wide right under heavy wind in the 28th. FNU went into the break leading the corner race 3-2 and with eight fouls on the pitch. 

Bellevue had a point-blank chance at goal for Adam Sherwood three minutes into the half, but it was easily handled by FNU goalie Vitor Caetano Pedrosa. Sherwood had another opportunity to sail well above the crossbar in the 50th, and this set off an impressive offensive surge by the Bruins. BU owned the first five shots of the period but were unable to put the ball in the ever-shrinking 24-feet-wide by 8-feet-high net. 

Bellevue looked like they finally broke through in the 23rd minute on a corner kick entry pass that once again found Sherwood, but the Lowestoft, England, native was called offside. Luque continued to be a problem with a great look on goal, saved by Simpson on the next FNU possession. The Bruins and FNU continued to search for a goal in the closing minutes but were ultimately forced to play overtime on a cool night in The Peach State. 

Two minutes into the first overtime with the golden goal rule in effect, Buster Honeywood almost ended it all with a shot that hit that bounced off the crossbar to set up a BU corner kick. Mateo Cigaina was the real X Factor for FNU, showing up in crunch time defensively. Bellevue was a relentless threat in overtime, stacking the box and earning two shots and two corners before the clock ran out. The second overtime period proved just as fruitful as both sides looked to end this deadlock in a penalty shoot-out.

Okan Erkocu was the first player to step to the mark against Caetano and converted it with ease. Ribeiro was able to keep FNU in the running with a smart shot to the bottom right corner to make it 1-1 before Juan Lagares picked the same spot as Erkocu for the Bruins' second penalty. Juan Pugin stepped up to level the shoot-out once again before Stanley Richardson got another PK past Caetano. Junior Fabio Zandona Tajra froze Simpson with a quick hop step as each team went a combined six-for-six on PKs before Andres Valencia missed the mark on the post. 

Diego Zogbi had a chance to end the match but saw his shot miss well high of the mark before Honeywood put the pressure back on FNU with a solid penalty shot. Luckily for FNU, Luque was the next man up and calmly buried the shot. Jeremiah Hteh was the next Bruin to attempt s shot at the penalty marker and was able to net it with ease. 

Thiago Bayer needed to convert to keep FNU afloat, but Simpson capped off his huge night with a game-ending save towards the left side of the net. This sent the Bruins into a joyous frenzy as they moved on to the CAC Final Tuesday evening against Georgia Gwinnett College for a chance to make it six consecutive conference titles.
 
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