FAU Claims 2025 American Tournament with 3-2 Win Over FIU

With a 3-2 victory over South Florida rival FIU, the Florida Atlantic Owls earned the 2025 American Conference Tournament Title. The win is FAU’s second conference tournament victory and the first since 2007.

First Half

The Owls faced adversity early in the match as Florida International scored their first goal of the match in the 3rd minute thanks to a rather wild scrum in the box. 

Then in the 20th minute, FAU scored the equalizer as Josh Ainge’s pass to Mamadou Diarra led to the Owls leading striker sticking the ball into the back of the net with the Owls and Panthers tied at one.

Exactly four minutes later, Aboubacer Traore’s corner kick worked to near perfection as Ethan Schumaker headed the go-ahead goal into the bottom right corner of the net.

Second Half

Both squads shared attacks throughout the second as Florida Atlantic wanted to pull away. In the 70th minute, Diarra scored his second goal of the evening as his Owls squad were only 20 minutes away from a title.

FIU did not stop the fight as the Panthers cut the deficit to one with 10 minutes to go, but the FAU Owls held on to clinch the victory and be crowned the champions of the American.

Tournament Notables

Diarra earned another accolade for his phenomenal season as the graduate was named Offensive Player of the Tournament. 

The two time American Conference Offensive Player of the year spoke after the game saying, “I don’t really want to say right now, my teammates and my coaches, and the fans they come from all the way from Florida to come support us. That’s amazing. We were working all year for this moment, we’ll never forget about this moment. I’m really proud of my teammates, and I know for sure, my friends, my people, my family, they couldn’t come watch me play, but they are proud of me. I miss them so much. I hope I can see them soon. You know, my mom, my dad, my sister, my siblings, I’m really proud. Thank you so much.”

FAU’s CB Fabrizio Cubeddu was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament.

Three other Owls were named to the American Conference All-Tournament Team; F Oliver Moller-Jenson, M Ethan Schumaker, and F Aboubacer Traore.

Head Coach Joey Worthen shared after the match, “I can’t say enough about them. I mean, the win, the result is fantastic, but it’s everything they’ve done to be able to get it. They’re an unbelievable group of young men. They deserved it, and this wasn’t just a one time thing. They’ve done it all year, and for them to be able to get the reward is fantastic, unbelievable.”

Look Ahead

Florida Atlantic (12-3-2, 5-1-2 American), with the title win, earned the automatic qualifier bid into the NCAA Tournament. It will be the first time the FAU Men’s Soccer program has competed in the tournament. The Owls will know their opponent with the field being announced on Monday, November 17th at 1 PM ET. The first round of the tournament is on November 20th and will be held on campus locations.

Main Graphic via American Conference on X.
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