Florida Atlantic opened its 2026 women’s soccer season with a resilient team performance Wednesday night, battling in-state rival FIU to a 1-1 draw before an announced crowd of 1,017 at Howard Schnellenberger Field in Boca Raton.
The Owls controlled the match’s most promising late moments and came within a saved penalty kick of securing a victory. Freshman Maiya Castillo scored Florida Atlantic’s goal in her college debut, while fellow newcomer Bella Burr supplied the assist on the breakthrough play.
After nearly 75 scoreless minutes, Castillo capitalized on a one-on-one opportunity to give the Owls a 1-0 lead. FIU responded less than five minutes later, heading home an equalizer and setting up a tense finish between the South Florida rivals.
Florida Atlantic earned a penalty in the 86th minute, giving the team an opportunity to move back in front. Hailey Santiago took the attempt, but the FIU goalkeeper made the save. The Panthers recorded the match’s final shot with seconds remaining, sending it safely over the goal.
The result left both teams with 0-0-1 records and offered an encouraging first look at a Florida Atlantic squad featuring several new faces. Six players made their Owls debuts in the starting lineup: Georgia Cousins, Cicely-Ann Spencer-Wickham, Alex Bayouth, Amelia Hillman, Lola Hathorne and Selena Gaytan.
Seven more newcomers entered from the bench. Olivia Surprenant, Sephora Joachim, Castillo, Burr, Carly Paz, Emerson Scott and Avery Runk all received playing time, giving Florida Atlantic 13 players who made their team debuts during the opener.
Despite working with a substantially changed lineup, the Owls remained organized through 90 minutes. Goalkeeper Ashley Small and Spencer-Wickham played the entire match, providing continuity in the defensive half while Florida Atlantic rotated players around them. Santiago led the team with two shot attempts.
The collective performance was especially important for a program seeking improvement after finishing 4-12-3 overall and 1-7-2 in American Conference play last season. Florida Atlantic allowed 41 goals across 19 matches in 2025, but the Owls kept FIU scoreless for more than three-quarters of Wednesday’s opener.
Florida Atlantic also responded well after losing its one-goal advantage. Instead of retreating after FIU’s equalizer, the Owls continued to press and created the penalty opportunity that nearly produced a decisive goal.
The draw stopped FIU’s two-match winning streak in the series. The Panthers defeated Florida Atlantic 2-0 in Boca Raton in 2024 and won 3-1 in Miami last season. According to FIU’s series records, Wednesday’s meeting produced the fourth tie between the programs since 2004.
For the Owls, the opener demonstrated the potential value of their roster depth. Castillo and Burr combined for the goal after entering as substitutes, while the starting group kept the match level through a scoreless first half. The contributions from both groups provided head coach Patrick Baker with several options as the team moves deeper into its nonconference schedule.
The challenge will increase quickly. Florida Atlantic will host Miami at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Owls’ first match of the season at FAU Soccer Stadium. The Hurricanes also opened their season Wednesday, playing at Jacksonville before making the trip to Boca Raton, according to Miami’s official schedule.
Florida Atlantic will then travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State on Aug. 20. The Owls’ early schedule also includes games against Howard, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida Gulf Coast, North Dakota State and North Dakota before conference play begins.
Those matchups will test how quickly Florida Atlantic’s newcomers can develop chemistry, but the FIU draw supplied a useful starting point. The Owls defended as a unit, found a goal through two first-year contributors and continued attacking after surrendering the lead.
A victory narrowly escaped them, but Florida Atlantic’s balanced effort offered evidence that a reworked roster is prepared to compete together as the 2026 season unfolds.
Photos by Jeff Klein/Power Play Photo
