Box Score LAKELAND – A stunning start by Aubrey Riggins and perhaps an equally stunning goal by Kristy Legoas staked Florida Southern to an early lead Saturday in its non-conference game against 8th-ranked Barry. In the second half though, it was Florida Southern's defense that made sure those goals held up for a 2-1 win over the Buccaneers.
All of the scoring came in the first 22 minutes of the game, with Riggins scoring just over two minutes into the contest, and Legoas putting the Moccasins (4-0-1) ahead 2-0 in the 18th minute. The Buccaneers (3-1-1) then received a goal from Lauren Manna in the 22nd minute, and although there were plenty of scoring chances for both sides after that, there were no more goals to be had.
The win was Florida Southern's first over a top-10 team since September 12, 2010, when the Moccasins defeated #2 West Florida 3-2 in overtime. Oddly enough, it was the first time the Mocs ever beat any top-25 team on their home field, with all of the previous such wins coming on the road or at neutral sites. It also gave Florida Southern it's best 5-game start since 2010.
The goal by Riggins came after senior Kirra Rainbow (Melbourne Beach, Fla.) had taken the ball deep into the right corner of Barry's defensive third. Rainbow's crossing pass may not have been intended for Riggins, but it got there anyway after going all the way through the box where it was collected at the top left corner of the penalty area by Riggins. The sophomore midfielder from Bradenton took the shot from that spot before any Barry defender could make a play, notching her fourth goal of the season, and putting the Mocs on top just 2:07 into the match.
The goal by Legoas in the 18th minute was a shot from nearly 30 yards and taken from near the left sideline. It seemed like an impossible shot from that distance and that angle, but nevertheless, it was over the head of Barry goalkeeper Becca Rogers and into the top right corner for Legoas' first goal of the year.
Barry responded less than four minutes later when Manna took a similar shot on the other end of the field, though not quite as far out or at quite the angle. It was equally well-placed though, cutting the Florida Southern lead down to 2-1.
The Bucs had two other very good chances before halftime, but senior goalkeeper Erin Moseley (Jacksonville, Fla.) stopped both of them by coming off her line to scoop up balls that were played a step too far for either Shanice Robe or Amanda Traynor.
After outshooting Florida Southern 8-5 in the first half, Barry held a 9-4 advantage in the second half, but the back line of freshman Juliana Guida (Bradenton, Fla.), junior Christine Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla.), senior Sydney Montgomery (Sanford, Fla.) and junior Gianna Conte (Orange Park, Fla.) kept the Bucs off the board. Knudstrup was extremely active all night, and two of Guida's best plays came in the final 15 minutes. On the first of those, she was the last defender with a chance to stop a Barry run toward goal, and the second was a crucial header off a corner kick.
Barry was also unable to take advantage of a pair of free kicks just outside the box in the final 20 minutes too. On one of them, it took stops by Montgomery and junior midfielder Erin Phillips (Geneva, Fla.) before the ball was finally cleared out of danger. Then, with Florida Southern still trying to hold on to its 1-goal lead with a little under two minutes to play, senior midfielder Jackie Metz (Vero Beach, Fla.) stepped up to stop a handful of other Barry threats, which allowed the Moccasins to run out the clock.
Florida Southern will play another non-conference game against a nationally ranked Sunshine State Conference team on Wednesday when it travels to the University of Tampa for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
