Box Score LAKELAND – Sheila Ramos brought Florida Southern back from one deficit in the first half,Kirra Rainbow did the same in the second half, and Erin Moseley kept the Moccasins' near-national best overtime streak intact with a huge save in the waning moments of extra time. At the end of a long night, it left #22 Florida Southern and Palm Beach Atlantic tied 2-2.
The tie was the second straight for the Moccasins (4-0-3), who are now off to the best undefeated start in their 17-year history. It also kept the Mocs unbeaten in their last 22 overtime games dating back to 2009, which is one short of the longest current streak in Division II, put together by West Chester (PA).
Statistically, Florida Southern held a commanding 24-10 advantage in shots, and both goalkeepers were kept busy, with Moseley making eight saves for the Moccasins and Kayla Wincko making nine for the Sailfish. The disparity in shots was even more pronounced after a lightning delay stopped the game midway through the first half. After that, the Mocs out-shot the Sailfish 9-1 the remainder of the half and 21-6 over the rest of the game. Much of that was due to the play of junior defender Gianna Conte (Orange Park, Fla.) who put together a fantastic game from her right back position, mostly on defense, but occasionally on offense too.
Palm Beach Atlantic (2-4-1) came out gunning from the opening whistle as Kierstyn Harrington forced Moseley (Jacksonville, Fla.) into a save just 18 seconds into the game. Three minutes later, Kasey Wyer hit a hard line drive from 35 yards out that brought the senior goalkeeper into action again, and a corner kick in the 10th minute was headed out of danger by junior Taylor Cox (Palm City, Fla.). Moseley had to make another save on another long-distance shot by Wyer before the Sailfish found the mark in the 18th minute.
Scoring for the Sailfish was Elizabeth Gonzalez, who was open on the right side of the 18-yard box where she took a cross-field pass from Wyer and punched home a shot to the near side of the goal.
Though Palm Beach Atlantic was on the board first, Florida Southern was equally active on offense in the first 25 minutes of play, with multiple chances created by Conte or sophomore Kristy Legoas (Palm Harbor, Fla.). Wincko stopped two shots during that stretch, and the defense repelled a handful of others.
After a 30-minute delay for lightning, momentum shifted in favor of the Moccasins. Freshman Abby Bravo(Clearwater, Fla.) threatened the net twice after the delay, both of them were saved by Wincko, but the second one was inches from tying the game. With her back to the goal, the Mocs' freshman forward headed a ball off a corner kick from Conte through the defense and toward the far post, but Wincko scrambled after it on the ground and grabbed it before it crossed the line.
A foul against the Sailfish eventually gave Florida Southern the opening it needed to tie the score. The free kick was taken from approximately 25 yards out near the left corner of the penalty box, and though Rainbow had her shot blocked by the PBA wall, it bounced away, giving her another attempt from the right side. Shooting the ball toward the far post, Rainbow had it saved by Wincko, but the PBA goalkeeper was unable to control it, and Ramos swept in from the back side of the play to knock it home. It was the first career goal for the sophomore from Tampa.
In the second half, the Mocs had the better of it early, but again it was PBA that scored first. The goal came in the 77th minute after Moseley had just saved a shot by Wyer taken at close range. The ball deflected right to Monica Rojas though, who was good on the follow-up at the left post. That sequence represented two of the three shots taken by the Sailfish in the second half, and they didn't have another one until the second overtime.
It took barely over one minute, however, for the Mocs to tie the score after senior Jackie Metz (Vero Beach, Fla.) was taken down in the box for a penalty kick. Rainbow delivered for the Moccasins, and the match was knotted at two.
With PBA unable to generate any offense after its second goal, Florida Southern had two wonderful shots by junior midfielder Taylor Chitty (Columbus, Ohio) and senior defender Sydney Montgomery (Sanford, Fla.), both of which were just off the mark. Chitty's came from the top of the box with 4½ minutes to play after a ball played in by Rainbow, but the shot rocketed a little to the left. Montgomery then had a go at one from nearly 40 yards after the Sailfish had cleared a corner kick in the final minute. That one was even closer and would have been a glorious finish for another Moccasin defender who's put together a strong start to the season.
The only shots for either team in the first overtime came in the 96th minute when Bravo had one saved by Wincko and Rainbow put a follow-up attempt wide. In the second overtime, the Sailfish had the best chance to score when Wyer fed Laura Geisler streaking down the left flank. Receiving the ball behind the back line of Florida Southern, Geisler had only Moseley between her and the goal, but it was enough for the Moccasins. Moseley saved the shot and brought the ball under control to keep the game tied, the way it ended 2½ minutes later.
Florida Southern will open Sunshine State Conference play in its next game on Wednesday at #8 Rollins. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
