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Florida National University

Scoreboard

Mateo Cigaina and Fabio Zandona Tajra locked arms before kickoff against St. Thomas
Lucas Lopes
3
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA (0-0-2)
3
Warner (FL) WARNER ( (0-3-1)
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA
(0-0-2)
3
Final
3
Warner (FL) WARNER (
(0-3-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Florida National (FL) FLORIDA 1 2 3
Warner (FL) WARNER ( 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Brenda Bogle

Cigaina’s two-goal performance secures FNU a draw Friday

LAKE WALES, Fla. (Aug. 29, 2025) — Florida National (0-0-2) earned a thrilling 3-3 tie versus the Warner University Royals (0-3-1) Friday. Senior defender Mateo Cigaina was essential to FNU's success in Lake Wales, Fla., with goals in the 42nd and 49th minutes of the match.

Five minutes into the seventh-ever meeting between these two NAIA programs, Warner's Vlad Andersen got his team in front with a goal on a breakaway from the right side of the field. FNU goalkeeper Vitor Caetano Pedrosa attempted a diving save but was a step late to contain the blazing shot from Andersen. This was just the fifth goal Warner has ever scored against the Conquistadors, dating back to FNU's inaugural men's soccer season in 2015.

The remainder of the half, FNU took control of the match with a game-tying score seeming well within reach. The Conquistadors had nine shots to Warner's three, and were able to draw a penalty after a foul was committed in the right corner of the box. Junior Juan Pugin, unfortunately, had an uncharacteristic miss after his shot smacked the right post. 

Luckily for FNU, Cigaina used the congested confusion generated by a Pugin corner kick at the 42nd-minute mark to sneak in FNU's second goal of 2025. The Buenos Aires, Argentina, native celebrated with the bench as players jumped on his back in jubilation. Following a quick injury timeout for the Royals' Noah Farrington, both teams played the remaining minutes of the period and moved to the benches for the halftime break. 

FNU recorded six corners and six shots on goal in the frame.

Four minutes into the second half, Cigaina found the back of the net once again following another Pugin corner kick to give FNU its first lead of the evening. The road team continued to pressure the Royal backline, drawing its second penalty of the day, this time for Thiago Santos Bayer. Bayer faced a similar result at the penalty marker, however, as goalkeeper Mikey Melvin read it perfectly for his second save of the half. 

Warner showed some fight on its home field, roaring back with a stunning header from Jason Flaming, assisted by Marcel Tovar. After leveling the game with 25 minutes remaining, Warner was unable to cool FNU's pace, as Pugin posted a timely score to put his team back in front with under 15 minutes remaining. 

The Royals found themselves without answers until Andersen claimed his second goal of the match to snatch FNU's hopes of a road win with 85 seconds left to play. Warner played it safe, using the clock to its advantage. FNU headed back to Hialeah, Fla., with seven corners and 15 shots. Caetano ended his night with two saves.

Up Next: Men's soccer looks to put in work on Labor Day, facing Ave Maria University at 6 p.m. on the road. 


 
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