The Lady Owls soccer team remains in search of its first Sun Belt Conference victory after a 3-0 loss to the University of Denver on Oct. 4 at the FAU Soccer Stadium.

Conspicuously absent in the Owls’ loss was leading scorer Ashley Mannarino. Head Coach Brian Dooley announced she has been suspended indefinitely due to conduct detrimental to the team, but he would not elaborate on her actions.

Mannarino’s absence spoke for itself on the field, as the Owls held the Pioneers scoreless in the first half but could not muster up anything offensively. With little offense going, the defense began to break down early in the second half as Denver forward Kari Storslett came out and scored off a Mariah Johnston assist less than two minutes into the half.

Storslett would get her second goal of the game eight minutes later off of a Megan Flannery rejection. Afterward, he Owls turned their defense back up a notch before giving up the final goal of the match in the 81st minute. Denver forward Katy Van Lieshout’s second effort following a deflected corner kick found the back of the net for the Pioneers.

The Owls were led defensively by the aggressive play of Janelle Blake and goalkeeper Ashley Lantes’ nine saves.

Though the team remains winless in conference play, Coach Dooley still remains optimistic about the remainder of the season.

Dooley said: “Traditionally, we struggle early on. The first four games have always been our toughest in conference so we’re always at this point battling uphill.

“We’re not in a position to look past any opponent but we have winnable conference games left.”

Next up for the Owls, who fell to 2-8-2 on the season and 0-4 in the Sun Belt, is the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks, who come to play in Boca Raton on Oct. 9.