Box Score LAKELAND – Sheila Ramos and the Florida Southern defense put together another fabulous game against another top-25 opponent Saturday night. It seemed like where ever the ball was, so too were a collection of Moccasins that turned #11 Barry away time and time again. Ultimately, the Buccaneers found only one opening all night, with Lavinia Nkomo scoring with 15:59 remaining to give Barry a 1-0 victory.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie at the end of the first half with the shot totals also equal at four apiece. Two of the Florida Southern shots came from Ramos, who was strong on both ends of the field from start to finish. The junior midfielder provided the Moccasins with three of their seven shots overall and dropped back on defense numerous times to disrupt a Barry attack that scored three goals against the Mocs in an earlier non-conference meeting on September 3.
With a starting back line that featured Christine Knudstrup, Juliana Guida, Erin Phillips, and Alex Daley, and freshman Becca Watson playing 60 minutes as a reserve, the Moccasins surrendered just 10 total shots to the Buccaneers (7-2, 3-1 Sunshine State Conference), and goalkeeper Helena Norrstrom had to make only three saves.
The only one that found its mark came from Nkomo, the reigning SSC Player-of-the-Year. It came after a cross from Shanice Robe came across the box from deep in the right corner, and set up the senior forward for a sliding shot at the far post for her seventh goal of the season.
Florida Southern (1-6-1, 1-3 SSC) was facing a Barry defense that was limiting opponents to just over eight shots per game, and though the Moccasins were held to seven, they forced Buccaneer goalkeeper Paula Forero into five saves, her second highest total of the season.
Ferero faced a stern test in the 25th minute when a nice pass from Izzy Loyd led Dominique Cirnigliaro into the box for a potential 1-on-1 opportunity. Ferero read the play well though, coming hard off her line and was in position as soon as Cirnigliaro took the shot, deflecting it away with her feet while sliding in for the challenge. She later appeared to tip the ball over the cross bar on a shot by Gianna Conte from outside the box.
The Mocs' best scoring chance in the second half came from Ramos on a long-distance free kick. Getting the tap-back from Taylor Cox, Ramos curled the ball over and around the Buccaneer defense, but Ferero went to the ground in front of the far post to make the save. That came with a little over two minutes remaining and was the final shot taken by either team.
Florida Southern will be at home again for its next game on Wednesday night when it hosts Rollins College, the 2014 national runner-up, in a match that begins at 7 p.m.
