LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's soccer team dropped its conference opener to a score of 3-1 against Nova Southeastern Saturday night at Berend Field.
Florida Southern (2-1-2, 0-1-0 SSC) scored in the first two minutes of the game with a goal by
Caitlyn Lowery but was unable to find the net in the second. Nova Southeastern (2-0-1, 1-0-0 SSC) tied the game in the first half before taking off in the second half with two goals for the 3-1 win.
An early attack by the Mocs as a ball got to keeper
Jenny Staten, who punted deep into midfield. The bouncing ball found C. Lowery in a stride who sprinted for her one-on-one opportunity and right foot to the left side of the net for her second goal of the season. The Sharks responded with a push in the offense with four unanswered shots until a corner kick by Louise Matsgard for Nova took a bounce inside the box and off Annie Bjork for the goal.
Both squads fought through the first half with more shot opportunities for the Sharks, but good defense by the Mocs kept the score a 1-1 mark at halftime. Nova Southeastern found momentum early in the second with a goal by Luana Grabias after a deep pass by Katharina Jullich and a 2-1 Sharks lead.
FSC had a great chance to equalize 10 minutes into the second half with a shot by
Morgan Elliott, but the Nova keeper was there for the save. NSU extended its lead at the 70:20 mark with a goal by Chama Silva from a Grabias assist to create a two-goal lead halfway through the second half.
The Moccasins had a great opportunity with 10 minutes to spare by
Alison Jenkins but again saved by NSU's keeper Stefane Rosa. Florida Southern continued to fight in the last minutes with shots on goal by
Anita Vera and
Paige Weis, but was unable to score as the Sharks hold on for a 3-1 NSU win.
The Mocs hit the road for a midweek non-conference matchup against Edward Waters on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla.
