LAKELAND - Last year in Alabama, Florida Southern rallied from a 3-goal deficit to down the University of Montevallo, 4-3. This year, it was Montevallo's turn to stage a come-from-behind victory as the Falcons scored twice in the final seven minutes to pull out a 3-2 win over the Moccasins Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons (1-2-1) scored their three goals on just seven shots, and two of those goals came on direct free kicks. The first of those came at the 10:58 mark in the first half when Stacey Balaam drilled a free kick from the top center of the box that hit off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced into the net for a 1-0 Montevallo lead.

Montevallo would get off two more shots before Florida Southern (1-2) took its first, but from their the Mocs would dominate the rest of the first half. Linda Hoglund scored in the 27th and 37th minutes to put the Mocs ahead 2-1 at the break, and they continued to control the match through most of the second half as well.

Going into the final 20 minutes, Florida Southern had out-shot Montevallo 11-4, with the Falcons threatening the net only once after the initial 15 minutes of play. However, that changed in the closing minutes, starting with another free kick. This one came off the foot of defender Adele Jackson, who hit a line drive from nearly 40 yards out that just made it under the crossbar for the tying goal with seven minutes to play.

Just three minutes later, Montevallo took the lead when Balaam crossed the ball out of the right corner, and Paula Radmard sent it on to Erin Jollay who connected on the game-winner. It turned out to be the last real scoring chance for either team.

It was a tough loss to take for Florida Southern, which otherwise put together an outstanding defensive effort against a team that scored 60 goals in 2007 and advanced to the South Region championship game. The Mocs' back line also got plenty of help from midfielder Christina Crooks, who seemed to win every 50-50 ball to set up several strong runs.

It was Crooks who created the Mocs' first goal, and the senior managed to do it two different ways. She started the scoring play by heading a Montevallo free kick out of the box, then pushed forward and eventually fed the ball to Erin Hopkins in the middle of the field. Hopkins in turn found Hoglund, who beat a defender into the box and beat goalkeeper Corey Gros 1-on-1.

Hoglund did most of the work herself on the next goal. After her corner kick was sent back out by the Montevallo defense, Hoglund ended up with the ball again and took it into the box on the dribble. She was fouled before a shot could be taken, but converted the ensuing penalty kick to give the Mocs a 2-1 lead.

After that goal, the defensive line of Renee Heacock, Lexie Bottomley, Ashlie Haas and Princess Haley completely took control. Crooks also played a big role and nearly assisted another goal with 13 minutes to play. However, her strong cross intended for Alex Hoover was headed away by Hayley Grant to prevent the score.

The Mocs managed just one shot after that, with Hoover pulling one just wide in the 84th minute after the Falcons had tied the score.

Florida Southern returns to the field on Friday when it travels to Thomasville, Georgia for a 2:00 p.m. against Thomas University.

UM  1   2   -  3
FSC 2   0   -  2

SCORING: UM--Balaam (unassisted), 10:58; FSC--Hoglund (Crooks, Hopkins), 26:44; FSC--Hoglund (penalty kick), 36:21; UM--Jackson (unassisted) 83:00; UM--Jollay (Balaam, Radmard), 86:01. SHOTS: UM 7, FSC 13. CORNER KICKS: UM 3, FSC 8. SAVES: UM 4 (Gros), FSC 2 (Tangen Billing). FOULS: UM 12, UM 9. CAUTIONS: Correia (UM), 40:02; Jansson (FSC), 89:46, Crooks (FSC), 89:46.