LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's soccer team opened the 2023 season with a 2-0 victory over Spring Hill College Friday night after nearly two hours of weather delays. The Friday night win was head coach
Gerry Lucey's first win at the helm for the Moccasins.
The Mocs (1-0, 0-0 SSC), who are registering votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, dominated ball possession throughout the game with two second-half goals to seal the victory. The Badgers (0-1, 0-0 GSC) staged a late surge in attack but Mocs shut out Spring Hill for the 2-0 FSC win.
Florida Southern controlled the ball for most of the night with eight shots compared to Spring Hill's zero in the first half alone. Battling the rainy weather, FSC had four corners in the first half with most of the action isolated to the Moccasin attacking third. The Mocs had their first real shot at a score with a boot by
Haley Thomassy, which was saved by the SHC goalkeeper. Despite the one-sided control of the ball, the game remained scoreless in the first 45 as the rain subsided.
FSC continued to attack the goal with another shot in the first seven minutes, and a scoring opportunity in the first 15 of the second half. FSC's defensive pressure proved dangerous for the Badgers with a costly pass by the goal allowing
Jasmin Adames to an interception and an easy goal in the 56
th minute.
Spring Hill pushed its attack in the final 20 minutes of action, leading to Moccasin keeper
Jenny Staten with two big saves to keep the score in favor of the Mocs. A miscue in the backfield for the Badgers nearly led to another Adames goal but SHC managed to save the goal with less than 10 minutes in the game. In the final two minutes, a failed clearance was blocked by
Ally Prentice with a wide-open goal to seal the Moccasin victory.
Florida Southern finished the game with 15 shots, four on goal, compared to just two shots by the Badgers. Staten finished with two saves in the game.
The Mocs remain at home for a matchup against No. 5 University of West Florida set to begin at 11 a.m. at Berend Field on Sunday, Sept. 3.
