General Oct 06, 2022

Mocs Minutes: Seven Teams in Action Over the Weekend

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Event: Shark Invitational
Dates | Times: Oct. 7-8, 2022 | 4:30 PM / 8:30 AM
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | NSU Aquatic Center
The Florida Southern men open their 2022-23 season at the Shark Invitational this weekend with a strong mix of newcomers and veteran athletes. Despite losing six seniors to graduation, the defending Sunshine State Conference champions look forward to another big year returning six NCAA qualifiers from last year's squad: Matteo Zampese, Kyle Micallef, Elder Oliveira, Keith Peristeridis, Ludwig Mueller, and Luka Prostran with an NCAA relay addition, Milosz Mencel. The returners have a combined 33 All-American honors and hope to build off the Mocs best season in recent years with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships last year.
The reigning SSC Coach of the Year, Andy Robins, welcomed seven incoming freshmen to the men's team. Robins mentioned he look forward to seeing their production as well as the improvements from summer for the entire team. The opening Shark Invitational has historically been a great opportunity to see what the team offers in the opening weekend and preparation for further conference dual meet action later in the season.
The Florida Southern women started their season a couple of weeks ago in a meet against Division I opponent Arkansas. A top-20 team in the nation, Arkansas tested the Mocs to start the season, and although Florida Southern lost, there was great production and early highlights for the 2022-23 season. The Mocs had top-three finishes in the Arkansas meet with Olivia Miles, Elizabeth Sikes, Allie Brinton, Erin McCann, Jazzy Hoffmann, Teagan Michalek, and Anya Bogdanova.
The Mocs return many from last year's women's team, with all of the NCAA qualifiers back from the best season in recent years. FSC women finished third in the SSC Championships and 26th in the NCAA finals, both top finishes in the last five years. Coach Robins added four freshmen to this year's squad and also added a new assistant, Maddie Samples, to help the men's and women's teams. Samples came to Lakeland from Cawtaba College, where she was the assistant, and adds a great piece to the swimming program as a whole.

Meet: Royals Cross Country Challenge
Date | Times: Oct. 7, 2022 | 5:05 PM (W) / 5:45 PM (M)
Location: Charlotte, N.C. | McAlpine Creek Park
Florida Southern cross country travels out of state for the first time in 2022 as the Mocs will head to Charlotte, N.C. to compete in the Royals Cross Country Challenge. The women will hit the course first at 5:05 PM Friday night while the men will follow at 5:45 PM.
The Florida Southern women used the opening race of the season to work on team tactics and then rested the top-seven in the second meet of the season. Despite not competing full out the Mocs are still ranked ninth in the South Region. Head coach Stephanie Bylander has had the top-seven runners focused on this Friday's meet since the beginning of the season and it will be the first time this season in which every athlete will go full out to achieve their best individual time.
With the top-seven resting, sophomore Julia Svartstrom led the Mocs in their most recent event, the Abbey Invitational. The Viera, Fla. native posted a 21st place finish in the event. At the opening meet of the season with the top-seven focused on team tactics sophomore Emma Mussante and junior Ellie Fluman led the way with top-five finishes.
Representing the Mocs in North Carolina will be Fluman, Mussante, freshman Rachel Hockenberry, junior Jinia Johnson, sophomore Marisa Kortright, sophomore Karah McElhone, junior Emery Roth and sophomore Mya Stam. FSC last competed at the Royals Cross Country Challenge in 2019 and four Mocs posted PRs at the race.
The Florida Southern men have had a strong start to the 2022 season with a pair of second place finishes. The only team to defeat the Mocs this season has been Embry-Riddle who edged the Mocs at both the EFSC Fall Classic and the Abbey Invitational. The results have earned the Mocs a sixth-place ranking in the South Region.
Junior Owen Allen, freshman Caleb Brady, freshman Chris Colavita, freshman Christian Giller, senior Alex Guy, sophomore Caden Kwiatkowski, freshman Anthony Matthew, freshman Nekhi Perry, junior Bryson Yamnitz and senior Brady Zimmerman will compete for the Mocs this Friday. The last time the Mocs competed at the Royals Cross Country Challenge former Moccasin Mason Jones broke the Florida Southern school record in the 8K while several others posted personal bests.
In the most recent meet, the Abbey Invitational, the Mocs took second overall as Matthew led the way with a seventh-place finish. The top-four Mocs all finished among the top-11 finishers in the race. The Eagles of Embry-Riddle edged the Mocs by just nine points.

Opponents: #18 Barry & Palm Beach Atlantic
Dates | Times: Oct. 7, 2022 | 7:00 PM / Oct. 8, 2022 | 4:00 PM
Locations: Miami Shores, Fla. | Health & Sports Center / West Palm Beach, Fla. | Rubin Arena
Records: Florida Southern 8-5, 3-3 SSC | #18 Barry 14-1, 7-1 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 8-7, 3-5 SSC
Florida Southern returns to action following Hurricane Ian with a pair of road matches in south Florida. FSC will take on its fourth top-25 opponent in the opening match of the weekend at No. 18 Barry. The Mocs will then travel to Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday. FSC is 2-1 against top-25 opponents this season.
Junior Mackenzie Petermann continues to lead the Mocs offensively with 3.57 kills per set which ranks her fourth in the SSC so far this season. Senior Ali Travis (2.72) and graduate student Emma Shaddix (2.11) rank second and third on the team, respectively, and are each averaging over 2.10 kills per set this season. Senior Mika Garza and junior Cassidy Markel continue to run the offense from the setter position and are averaging 9.24 and 4.00 assists per set, respectively. Garza currently ranks seventh in the SSC in assists per set. Travis leads a potent serving attack with 18 service aces this season. Garza (16), freshman Morgan Word (12) and graduate student Beatrice Formilan (10) all have double-digit aces this season.
Formilan leads the backline for the Mocs and is averaging 4.67 digs per set this season to rank third in the SSC. At the net it's sophomore Madison Fowler leading the way with 36 total blocks. She is averaging 0.88 per set so far in 2022. Joining her in the top five are Shaddix (24), Gilic (20), Petermann (18) and Word (17). The Mocs as a team posted 15 blocks in the victory over No. 25 Nova Southeastern earlier this season. The 15 total blocks were the most for Florida Southern since Oct. 28, 2017 when FSC posted 17 blocks in a 3-2 win over Lynn. The last time FSC had 15 or more blocks in a four set match came all the way back on Dec. 3, 2015 when the Mocs had 16 blocks versus North Alabama in the first round of the NCAA South Region Championship.
#18 Barry is an impressive 14-1 this season with its lone loss coming versus Lynn, a 3-0 setback. In the Buccaneers most recent contest, they edged Palm Beach Atlantic on the road 3-2 this past Tuesday.
Sophomore Diana Akopova leads the Buccaneer offense with 264 total kills for a Sunshine State Conference leading 5.50 per set. Senior Djuly Schmorantz is the only other Buccaneer that is averaging over 2.00 kills per set and she has 2.83. Senior Marija Borcic runs the offense at setter and is averaging 11.04 assists per set to lead the SSC as well. At the service line, the Bucs boast four with double-digit aces led by Borcic who has 21.
Defensively, sophomore Luana Bulara leads the team with 4.15 digs per set. At the net it is sophomore Jeyhlen Thomas doing the heavy lifting with 68 total blocks for a SSC leading 1.42 per set. Akopova is second on the team with 46 blocks.
Palm Beach Atlantic is coming off three-straight five-set matches. The Sailfish defeated Saint Leo before falling to Florida Tech and Barry.
Freshman Abbie Zylstra leads the Sailfish offensively with 2.64 kills per set. Junior Kaileigh Ammons (2.16) and graduate student Kayla Matthews (2.04) each are averaging over 2.00 kills per set as well. Graduate student Jayden Otto is running the offense at the setter position and is averaging 9.62 assists per set. Sophomore Lauren Cummings has led at the service line with 24 total aces.
Defensively, Otto leads the team with 2.57 digs per set. Freshman libero Jayna Bredenberg is averaging 2.45 digs per set. At the net, Ammons leads with 52 blocks followed by senior Anna Gregerson who has 45.
HISTORY: The Mocs and Buccaneers have met 78 times on the volleyball court with the Mocs holding a 41-37 edge in the series. FSC won the most recent meeting which took place in 2021 and that victory snapped a five-match win streak in the series by Barry. FSC and PBA have met just 24 times with PBA holding the slight edge 14-10. FSC has lost six-straight to the Sailfish. The last victory for FSC in West Palm Beach came all the way back in 2014, a 3-2 FSC victory.

Opponent: Palm Beach Atlantic
Date | Time: Oct. 8, 2022 | 6:00 PM
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla. | PBA Soccer/Lacrosse Field
Records: Florida Southern 7-1-3, 3-1-1 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 1-4-3, 0-1-2 SSC
Florida Southern the remains hot with their third straight victory in last night's 7-0 rout of Edward Waters at home. Caitlyn Lowery scored two goals in the game, with six other goal scorers: Maris Kern (her collegiate first), Jasmin Adames, Claire DuRee, Meghan Kriney, and Alison Jenkins. Freshman keeper Heidi Harris got the start against EWU and earned her first collegiate shutout with three saves. The night before their EWU win, the Mocs remained busy with a 1-0 win against Saint Leo University in a huge SSC road win. Florida Southern remains undefeated on the road this season. A hard-fought match, the Mocs won with Angelina Coelho's third game-winner of the season.
C. Lowery's two goals against EWU set her to seven goals on the season, second best in the conference and top 40 in the nation. Coelho and C. Lowery are also tied for second in the conference with three game-winning shots recorded. With 25 assists as a team, C. Lowery, Alison Jenkins, Lindsey Meyer, and Anita Vera each with three. Other team leaders include Jenny Staten with her 0.857 save percentage and 24 saves from her 81 shots faced. Staten has only allowed four goals all year in her six starts and has four shutouts on the year.
As a team, Florida Southern is top 16 in the nation in multiple categories, including assists per game, points per game, scoring offense, shutout percentage, total assists, total goals, and total points. The Mocs, ranked eighth in the latest United Soccer Coaches South Region poll, continue to dominate their opponents with a strong 2.73 goals per game and their seven shutouts. The seven wins on the season are already the most wins since 2017 as the red-hot Mocs continue to win with five games remaining on the schedule.
Palm Beach Atlantic hosts the Mocs with only one win on the season but have had big-time ties in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Last time out, the Sailfish tied Barry 1-1 with Ariana Jones the goal scorer. The Bucs tied the game with just over three minutes left in the game off a free-kick goal by Cristina Blaya. PBA had only five shots in the game, compared to Barry's 21, but had nine saves to end the game in a 1-1 tie.
The Sailfish have scored eight goals this season in what appears to be a strong emphasis and strength in their defense. Alyana Gonel leads the Sailfish with two goals on the year, with six other scorers with one goal on the season. PBA has used three different goalies during the year, with Alexis Agramonte ahead of the keepers with 18 saves in her five appearances. As a group, PBA has faced 104 shots, compared to 75 for their opponents. As a team, PBA averages 1.92 goals against per game.
HISTORY: Florida Southern has struggled, historically, against the Sailfish, with six wins and 10 losses. Although two ties in their series history, both teams have quite the battle, with 1.67 average goals scored. The Mocs have lost the last three games against the Sailfish, their last win a road game in head coach Paul Lawrence's first year with Florida Southern.

Opponent: Palm Beach Atlantic
Date | Time: Oct. 8, 2022 | 7:00 PM
Location: Lakeland, Fla. | Berend Field
Records: Florida Southern 2-3-4, 0-2-2 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 6-2-0, 2-2-0 SSC
Florida Southern is trying to get back in the groove of a normal season after being off for 10 days due to Hurricane Ian and they did that Wednesday night with a draw against Embry-Riddle. The Mocs scored early with a goal from Henri Tophoven after captain Leoluca Diefenbach found the foot of Tophoven in the second minute of play for a 1-0 lead. At the half, the Mocs and Eagles were tied and fresh out of the half Embry-Riddle took a 2-1 lead. THe Eagles remained on top until a wild finish ended the game in tie. In just a minute of play, the Mocs scored twice, once from Kyle Carr and again at the 89th minute after an assist from keeper, AJ Pearce who found Mathias Kjolner for his first goal of the season.
Nationally, Tophoven is ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA in four categories being 10th in total points, sixth in points per game, fourth in goals, and second in goals per game with a 1.11 average. After the Embry-Riddle match Tophoven has 10 goals on the year leading the Mocs. followed by Kyle Carr who is the only FSC player with more than one goal. With Mathias Kjolner's first goal last night he joined Dino Leddie with 14 total goals on the year. Pearce continues to dominate the goal for the Mocs tallying 35 saves on the season.
The Mocs are currently sitting ninth in the SSC remaining above the Eagles who tied Southern last night. The Mocs are one of three teams who still have not won a conference game four have two ties in the conference, the last two meetings ending in a tie.
Palm Beach Atlantic is coming off a 3-1 win over Rollins where the Sailfish traveled to Winter Park. Against the Tars, PBA three goals were scored by Niall Owens, Giancarlo Dostilio, and Harry Gardner. Palm Beach Atlantic had 11 shots with six being on goal while Rollins out shot PBA with 16 shots having just four on goal.
On the year, junior Harry Gardner is leading the way for the Sailfish tallying five goals for 10 points. Behind Gardner is senior Harrison Ardron with three goals and graduate student Yannick Toth with two goals. Seven other Sailfish have solo goals on the year in Giancarlo Dostilio, Orion McHugh, Federico Serra, Niall Owens. Samuel Richards, Nemanja Zivanovic, and Alexandro Grandados. In goal the lone PBA keeper holding it down is Guillermo Gal with 30 saves in just eight games.
The Sailfish are on a one game win streak, to sit seventh in the conference winning every game they have played outside of the SSC, opening the season on a five game winning streak before falling to Barry 4-3.
HISTORY: This is the 31st meeting between the two teams. The Mocs are on top with 16 wins however the last two meetings have not fallen in the Mocs favor as Southern fell 1-0 to PBA.

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Players Mentioned

Mason Jones: 6' 0"; Senior

#9 Claire DuRee: F; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#3 Meghan Kriney: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#29 Caitlyn Lowery: F; 5' 7"; Graduate Student

#0 Jenny Staten: GK; 5' 5"; Senior

#12 Kyle Carr: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Leoluca Diefenbach: D; 6' 2"; Junior

#24 AJ Pearce: GK; 6' 2"; Junior

#11 Maris Kern: M; 5' 6"; Freshman

#1 Heidi Harris: GK; 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mason Jones
: 6' 0"; Senior

#9 Claire DuRee
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: F

#3 Meghan Kriney
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#29 Caitlyn Lowery
: 5' 7"; Graduate Student
: F

#0 Jenny Staten
: 5' 5"; Senior
: GK

#12 Kyle Carr
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#4 Leoluca Diefenbach
: 6' 2"; Junior
: D

#24 AJ Pearce
: 6' 2"; Junior
: GK

#11 Maris Kern
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: M

#1 Heidi Harris
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: GK

Florida Southern College

Scoreboard

Mocs Minutes: Seven Teams in Action Over the Weekend

Players Mentioned

Mason Jones

#9 Claire DuRee

#3 Meghan Kriney

#29 Caitlyn Lowery

#0 Jenny Staten

#12 Kyle Carr

#4 Leoluca Diefenbach

#24 AJ Pearce

#11 Maris Kern

#1 Heidi Harris

Players Mentioned

Mason Jones

#9 Claire DuRee

#3 Meghan Kriney

#29 Caitlyn Lowery

#0 Jenny Staten

#12 Kyle Carr

#4 Leoluca Diefenbach

#24 AJ Pearce

#11 Maris Kern

#1 Heidi Harris

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