Box Score ![]()
LAKELAND -Â The Florida Southern Moccasins have never played in an NCAA playoff game (yet), but Sunday night's match against Saint Leo certainly had that feel. Two teams currently holding postseason positions, two teams evenly matched, and first place in the Sunshine State Conference on the line. Throw in sudden death overtime, and a mob scene at the end, and this is the reason they play the game.
With Princess Haley scoring the game-winning goal late in the second overtime, Florida Southern was able to prevail for a 2-1 win over Saint Leo that gave a huge boost to their postseason aspirations. It was the ninth straight win for the Moccasins (11-3, 5-0 SSC), who were ranked #6 in the most recent South Region poll. Saint Leo was #5.
Haley was at the bottom of the pile as the entire team rushed the field after the game ended with 2:12 remaining in overtime. It could have just as easily been any number of players who all made big plays to help Florida Southern erase a 1-0 halftime deficit. Elizabeth Gorman, Christina Crooks, Erin Hopkins and Linda Hoglund all made them, and that was just on the offensive end. Gorman scored the Mocs' first goal on a penalty kick in the 66th minute, while the other three set up Haley's goal.
Florida Southern owned the two overtime periods, out-shooting Saint Leo 4-1 during that time. They had the only shot in the first 10-minute extra period, then took three more in the second, with Hopkins forcing Lauren Hudson into saves on the first two. The third shot belonged to Haley and there was no stopping it.
It was Crooks who initially gave the Mocs the opportunity. As she's done all year, the senior midfielder won the ball near the center stripe and pushed it down the left sideline to Hoglund. After taking it to the corner, Hoglund crossed to the middle of the box for Hopkins, who laid it off for Haley near the top. The sophomore forward sent a curving shot into the far upper right corner that had barely touched the net before the rest of the Moccasins came pouring onto the field.
"I told the team before the game tonight that win or lose, this game will be the most fun we've had all year," said FSC coach Ben Strawbridge. "It lived up to its hype."
As for Gorman, the senior has three goals and five assists over the last five games, and scored her biggest goal of the season on Sunday. She got her chance after a shot by Jackie Bachteler was blocked by the hand of a Saint Leo defender in the box, giving Florida Southern a penalty kick. After checking into the game less than a minute earlier, Gorman took the kick and blasted a ball off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.
It was a fitting shot for Gorman, who had been denied by the post on more than one occasion this year. This time it aided her.
"I wanted to step up and take the responsibility in a game like this," said Gorman. "We have so many good players on this team though, and everyone was making plays tonight. We have so much heart, and we're more soccer mature and more composed after coming so close last year."
Saint Leo's only goal came courtesy of a penalty kick too, but that one had a twist. Malloree Enoch took the kick after Hannah Beard had been fouled in the box, but the shot was saved by Moccasin goalkeeper Martina Tangen Billing. It was the second time this year Tangen Billing came up big on a penalty kick. The rebound, however, went right back to Enoch who shot the ball again and this time scored.
The Lions (11-3, 3-2) nearly scored again right after that, but Tangen Billing made another spectacular save against Hannah Beard at the left post. A follow-up attempt by Pia Soesemann then went wide.
Then it was Hudson's turn to make a tough play on the other end as she made a diving save on a header by Crooks off a corner kick.
The first half ended with the Lions in control 1-0, and out-shooting the Moccasins 9-4. They got the first two shots of the second half too, with Tangen Billing again making a big save against Stacey Rodwell in the 48th minute.
The Moccasins settled down after that, and allowed only two more shots the rest of the night. While Kristen Vollmer and Lexie Bottomley were making big plays outside, Ashlie Haas and Renee Heacock were doing the same inside. Several of the scoring chances Florida Southern had in the latter stages were created by clearances from Haas and Heacock.
"We were fortunate to be able to score against a very good goalkeeper and the back line Saint Leo has," said Strawbridge. "They don't give you many chances, but we really battled back tonight and I'm so proud of that."
Sunday night was the third time in their last four meetings that Florida Southern and Saint Leo have gone to overtime. The one game that didn't saw both teams score in the final four minutes with the Lions netting the game winner with 35 seconds to play.
Florida Southern's next match will be Tuesday night when it hosts the University of Tampa at 6:00 p.m. The Spartans are the defending national champions, and now sit a half game behind the Moccasins in the SSC standings.
SLUÂ Â 1Â Â 0Â Â 0Â Â 0Â Â Â -Â Â 1
FSCÂ Â 0Â Â 1Â Â 0Â Â 1Â Â Â -Â Â 2
SCORING: SLU--Enoch (unassisted), 21:58; FSC--Gorman (penalty kick), 65:35; FSC--Haley (Hoglund, Hopkins), 107:48. SHOTS: SLU 14, FSC 15. CORNER KICKS: SLU 5, FSC 10. SAVES: SLU 4 (Hudson), FSC 7 (Tangen Billing). FOULS: SLU 23, FSC 8. CAUTIONS: None.
