Box Score LAKELAND – Friday night's game against Georgia College probably could not have gone any better for Florida Southern than it did, and it gave head coach Brittany Jones exactly what she was looking for in the Moccasins' 2014 season opener. There were three goals scored by the offense, no goals allowed by the defense, the senior starters all played key roles, and a handful of newcomers also made their mark in the Mocs' 3-0 win over the Bobcats.
Florida Southern received first-half goals from sophomore Margot Chowansky (Califon, N.J.) and senior Kirra Rainbow (Melbourne Beach, Fla.), and a second-half goal from freshmanAbby Bravo (Clearwater, Fla.). Senior goalkeeper Erin Moseley (Jacksonville, Fla.) made six saves in recording the shutout, the Mocs' first on opening night since a 6-0 win over Fontbonne in 2003. That was also the last time the Moccasins opened a season on their home field.
Chowansky had the honor of scoring Florida Southern's first goal of the season at the 11:39 mark, a play that started with senior midfielder Jackie Metz (Vero Beach, Fla.) in the attacking third. With junior Taylor Cox (Palm City, Fla.) serving as the go-between, the Mocs got the ball into the box for Chowansky, who beat goalkeeper Jessica Catapano from 15 yards.
Later in the first half, in the 33rd minute, it was Rainbow who gave the Moccasins a 2-0 lead with her shot from the top of the box that ended up in the top right corner of the net. That goal was set up by Bravo, who would later notch a goal of her own, taking advantage of a misplay by Catapano in the 59th minute that gave her a wide open shot from close range.
Florida Southern also benefitted from the strong debut of sophomore midfielder Aubrey Riggins (Bradenton, Fla.), a transfer from the University of South Florida who created several scoring chances throughout the night and took a team-high four shots herself. Sophomore Sheila Ramos (Tampa, Fla.) was another play-maker for the Mocs, whose ball work nearly gave them two more goals.
Defensively, the Moccasins allowed just nine shots, with two freshmen among the standouts there. Senior Sydney Montgomery (Sanford, Fla.), and juniors Christine Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla.) and Gianna Conte (Orange Park, Fla.) resumed their roles from last year and were joined by freshman Juliana Guida (Bradenton, Fla.) in holding the Bobcats to only two shots in the first half. In the second half, with Knudstrup moving into the midfield, freshman Jess Goedde (Batavia, OH) stepped in and helped keep the shutout going.
Florida Southern will now set its sights on #22 Lenoir-Rhyne (NC) on Sunday, with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Barnett Field.
