LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's soccer team settled for a 0-0 tie against the visiting University of Tampa Spartans Wednesday night at Berend Field as the last home game of the regular season.
The Mocs (8-4-3, 4-2-2 SSC) were even with Tampa in nearly every category as neither team could find the net. The Spartans (4-4-6, 0-3-5 SSC) equaled the 10 shots and three on goal with the Moccasins on a highly contested and windy night in Lakeland.
The conference rivals started the first half trading shots until the 18
th minute when a shot by Tampa's O'Leary was saved by Moccasin keeper
Jenny Staten. Florida Southern's first scoring opportunity came in the 31
st minute when a free kick outside the box allowed
Malia Brost to laser an attempt, but a diving save by UT's Smith kept the game even at zero at the half.
The wind continued to be a factor into the second half with many of the shots sent wide of the net. Both teams had five shots in each half and three total shots on goal, two of which were in the second half. Ten minutes into the second half,
Rilee Hasegawa had a great opportunity that was just high just as a shot by Tampa's Dennis was saved by Staten shortly after.
Each of the three saves by Tampa were off great attempts by the Mocs but the diving reach of Smith kept the game at zero until the final whistle. A late attempt by
Alison Jenkins served as the final save needed for the Spartans to tie Florida Southern with only two regular-season games left.
Brost led Florida Southern in shots with five, and two shots on goal.
Ally Prentice, the game-winning scorer in the last two games, had two shots. With the Spartans scoreless in the conference matchup, Staten earned her eighth shutout of the season, with her career total now at 24 shutouts in 59 games. Florida Southern remains in the hunt for a Sunshine State Conference postseason invite with two road conference games left in the regular season.
The Mocs will hit the road as they take on Barry University on Saturday, Oct. 28, set for a 6 p.m. start in Miami Shores.
