HOUSTON – Sunday's final game of the HBU Invitational at Sorrels Field saw the HBU men's soccer team fall to the Florida Atlantic Owls 5-2.

Both teams got off to a fast start from the opening kick. A 5^th-minute foul in the box by HBU's Diego Aguilera Cubero allowed FAU's Ivan Mykhailenko to score on a penalty kick, giving the Owls' a 1-0 lead. One minute later, Gianluca Natera sent an HBU corner kick to the far post where CJ Smith was there to meet it with a header goal, evening things at 1-1. Two more goals in the 10^th and 26^th minute saw the Owls extend their lead to 3-1.

In the 33^rd minute Husky forward Bryant Farkarlun outran two FAU defenders to track down a loose ball, cut to his right and struck a bullet into the back of the net to bring HBU back within one. Farkarlun put another shot on goal a few minutes later, which was saved by FAU's goalkeeper Neil Strauber. Strauber had four saves on the night. The Owls' were able to tally one more goal before halftime to stretch their lead to 4-2.

A relatively slow start in the second half saw both teams put a shot on goal but both keepers made saves. The Huskies had an opportunity to tighten the game in the 70^th minute on a handball in the box by FAU. Strauber made a full extension save on a Farkarlun penalty attempt to keep their lead at 4-2.

HBU goalkeeper Gustavo Otero made his season debut for the Huskies to start the second half, and totaled two saves before allowing a 77^th-minute goal to clinch the game for FAU, 5-2.

Florida Atlantic outshot the Huskies, 14-10. However, the Huskies had one more corner kick than the Owls, 6-5. Luis Poblacion, Alex Serrano, Natera, and Farkarlun all had shots on goal for the Huskies.

The Huskies will travel to Dallas this week to face SMU on Thursday at 7 p.m.