Box Score
WINTER PARK - In their final regular season game of the 2014 season and fourth all-time meeting with their Florida rivals, No. 6 Florida Southern weathered a late rally to hang on for a 16-13 victory over the Rollins Tars at Baker Family Stadium on the Rollins College campus.
With the win, the Mocs overall record improves to a program-best 16-2 as they look to reach the NCAA postseason for the first time in three seasons of competition. As for Rollins, the loss drops their record to 7-8 and brings their losing streak to five on the year.
The Tars struck first with a goal at 27:34 of the first half, but the Mocs answered back two minutes later with a score from junior Lorianne Hoover (Annapolis, Md.) off a feed from junior Caitlin Chase (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) to knot the game at 1-1 before Chase assisted on the go-ahead goal by junior Maureen Cromer (Baltimore, Md.) with 23:08 to go in the half.
Back-to-back goals exactly one minute apart gave Rollins a 3-2 lead before junior Megan Asper (Parkton, Md.) tied the score on a free-position shot following a Rollins yellow card at 14:40. The Tars retook the lead at 11:34, and added to their lead with a one-on-one rip on the crease to make the score 4-2 in favor of the host Tars with 9:39 still left on the clock in the half.
Asper found the back of the net at 8:54 and again just 27 seconds later on consecutive free-position attempts tied the score at 4-4. Chase's third assist of the contest, this one to sophomore Marissa Braden (Stuart, Fla.), gave the Mocs with 6:57 remaining in the half. Asper's fourth score of the half 37 seconds later increased the Florida Southern lead to two, and Hoover's second rip of the contest made it an 8-5 Moccasin lead with 5:38 to go before halftime.
FSC continued to pile on the points, with Hoover dishing to Kendall Kerge (Edgewater, Md.) for the freshman's first goal of the contest before striking again only 14 seconds later to up the FSC lead to five. Hoover scored her third goal of the contest to make it an 11-5 score for the Scarlet-and-White before Rollins ended the Mocs run at eight with a goal at 1:30, and the first half concluded with the Moccasins leading 11-6.
Kerge started the second half with her third goal of the night two minutes after the break, and sophomore Ashley Robertson (Ellicott City, Md.) ripped it past the Tar goalie for the Mocs' to make it a 13-6 lead with plenty of time remaining in the half. A pair of unassisted Rollins goals at 18:58 and 18:22 brought the Tars to within five, but Chase scored on an empty-net after a foul on the goalkeeper to bring the Moccasin lead back to seven with 15:21 to go in the game.
The Tars fired a free-position fastball past Hammerer at 13:25 to bring the margin to within five, but the fourth goal of the night from the captain Hoover put the Mocs back up by six with 12:10 remaining in the game.
Rollins continued to battle, finding the twine at 11:51 to reduce the deficit back to five, but Robertson scored her second of the game on an easy empty-netter to put the Mocs up six with 8:17 left in the contest. A late Rollins goal at 3:11 made it a 16-11 score, before a free-position shot found the back of the net to bring the Tars to within four with 2:38 left before the final horn sounded.
Another Tar goal just 14 seconds later made it a three-point affair and suddenly Florida Southern was on the ropes with momentum behind host Rollins. A one-on-one shot with Hammerer and the Rollins attacker clanged off the pipe, and the reigning Division II Goalie of the Year stopped another shot and brought it the length of the field for a successful Moccasin clear with 51 seconds left on the clock. Florida Southern ran out the clock to preserve the victory, their first over the Rollins program in four tries.
Hoover and Asper led the offense with four goals each, while Chase (1 G, 5 A) and Hoover (4 G, 2 A) both tallied six points in the victory. Kerge was the next highest scoring Moccasin with three points, while Robertson found the back of the net twice.
Hoover, Braden and freshman Parrisa Sakinejad (Millers, Md.) each pulled down two draw controls, while Hoover also scooped up four groundballs in their win. In addition to her outstanding offensive performance, Hoover also led the defense with three caused turnovers. Hammerer made nine saves in the win, with five coming in the second half, along with picking up two groundballs.
The game was evenly played for the entire 60 minutes. Rollins held a slight 28-27 shot advantage, while Florida Southern held the 25-23. Rollins controlled the draw circle, winning 22 of the 31 draws taken, while Florida Southern was 16-22 on clears.
For the Tars, Amy Martin, Carolina Lamere and Tyler Thomas each scored three goals, while Brittany Eveler put up two goals and three assists for five points. Bridget Donovan pulled down seven draw controls, while four separate Rollins players scooped up three ground balls. Elyse De Lisle caused two turnovers and picked up two groundballs, along with making five saves in a losing effort.
Florida Southern now plays the waiting game with their regular season officially in the books, counting down the days until the NCAA Selection Committee makes their decision on who advances to the NCAA Tournament on May 4. The Moccasins now look for outside help as they currently sit at No. 5 in the latest NCAA South Region standings.
