Box Score LAKELAND – Emma Bloom was in position on two different occasions for the Tars Wednesday night to knock in a rebound and it proved to be the difference in #16 Rollins' 2-0 win over Florida Southern. It was the Moccasins' third straight game against a top-25 opponent.
Bloom scored in the 15th minute and the 28th minute, with her first goal a follow-up on her own initial shot that was saved at point blank range by FSC goalkeeper Helena Norrstrom. The second came after Samantha Collin hit the crossbar from outside the box, with Bloom able to reach the bouncing ball before anyone else. After that, the game turned into an evenly-played match, with scoring chances nearly equal for both sides, but neither team able to score again.
The Tars (7-2, 4-1 Sunshine State Conference), who were last year's national runner-up, out-shot the Moccasins 19-8 in the match, but after the first 30 minutes, that margin was only 10-8. Norrstrom kept the Mocs in the game too with 10 saves, though many of those came on shots directly at her, with several coming from beyond 18 yards. The Mocs also benefited from another strong game by sophomore center back Juliana Guida, who helped keep the Tars off the board too for the final 62 minutes.
Mary Spring and Carly Stevens each made two saves for Rollins, with Stevens coming on as an injury replacement in the 51st minute. That substitution occurred after a big save by the Tars' fifth-year senior starting goalkeeper, who came out to challenge Gianna Conte and stop a shot at close range. Stevens then made two saves against Sheila Ramos, and the Mocs nearly got another one by her on a free kick by Kristy Legoas that was inches over the bar.
Spring's other save came against Jess Goedde in the first half when the Moccasin defender drilled a shot that appeared headed into the upper reaches of the net only to have it knocked down. She did not have to make a play on a shot by Madi Colaw, though Colaw's attempt wasn't wide by much.
Florida Southern (1-7-1, 1-4 SSC) will be on the road for its next match, traveling to Boca Raton to take on Lynn University on Saturday at 7 p.m.
