NEWARK, Del. - A late goal from graduate senior Mustapha Sowe gave the American University men's soccer team life late in the second half on Saturday night, but it wasn't enough to erase Delaware's two-goal lead. It was AU's last non-conference match before Patriot League play begins against Colgate at home next Saturday. 

Notable 

• Mustapha Sowe scored his first goal of the season, and Moad Ezzahir picked up his team-leading second assist. 
• American was outshot 12-5, but equaled Delaware in shots on goal with four. 
• Matthew Tibbetts made two saves, bringing his total to 18 on the season. 
• It was a physical game, with 20 total fouls and three yellow cards handed out. 
• AU has conceded first in its last four matches.
• The Eagles are now 0-4-1 on the season. 

How it Happened

• The Eagles started the match positively, creating two goal scoring chances and opening up Delaware's defense. 
• Just three minutes in, Colin O'Brien stayed onside to chase down a long ball from Ian Webb-Johnson. The striker got a clean look on goal from a sharp angle on the left side of the box, forcing a quality one-handed save from JoJo Elliot. 
• Five minutes later, Taku Takahashi put AU's second shot on target. Troy Elgersma lofted a well-weighted ball to his teammate to get him in the box, and Takahashi forced a diving save from Elliot with a shot to the bottom right side. 
• While American had created more promising chances and looked on the front foot, it was Delaware finding the back of the net first in the 21^st minute. Marius Stenner looped a cross towards the back post, where Mikey Johnson rose to it and snuck his header down and past Tibbetts.
• With just five minutes left in the half, the Blue Hens doubled their lead. Stenner was on the receiving end this time, heading in a corner kick feed from Jan Schroeder. 
• The home side stayed in control for most of the second half, holding possession and taking five shots before AU took one. 
• The Eagles had their best stretch of attacking play in the final 10 minutes, which accumulated in a goal from Mustapha Sowe. 
• First, it was Elgersma putting a header on target and forcing an acrobatic save from Elliot in the 81^st minute. On the next possession down, Ezzahir chipped a high ball into the box from the right flank. Sowe was there on the other end, squaring a strong header over the diving Elliot. 
• AU pushed forward in the final nine minutes, but couldn't find a game-tying goal. Finn O'Brien got the ball in the box to Sowe with just three seconds left, but he couldn't put his shot on target. 

Up Next

• The Eagles open up Patriot League play at home next Saturday, Sep. 13 against Colgate. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m

Keep Up With Us

• For the latest on American University men's soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).