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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s soccer team (2-5-1, 0-3-0 SSC) will look to pick up its first home victory as the Sharks host the Florida Southern Mocs (4-4-0, 1-2-0 SSC) at the NSU Soccer Complex on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.

The Sharks enter the match after starting the Sunshine State Conference season against three of the toughest opponents in the league. The Sharks have gone 0-3 against No. 8 Barry (3-2), No. 25 Saint Leo (4-3) and No. 16 Lynn (3-0). Saturday’s opponent will be the first non-nationally ranked foe the Sharks face in conference play.

Florida Southern enters Saturday in a similar situation to the Sharks as they are on their own three-match losing streak. They have taken losses against Palm Beach Atlantic (4-1), No. 18 Lynn (3-1) and Florida Tech (1-0). Although the Mocs’ 4-4-0 record is better than NSU’s, their only NCAA South Region win came against Eckerd, 3-2.

Despite the losing streak, Florida Southern has not struggled to score goals as they have averaged 2.75 goals per match compared to NSU’s average of one. Over half of the team’s goals have come from Zach Hofstetter and Ashley Holmes who have combined for 14 goals. In comparison, the leading goal scorers for the Sharks are James Pucci (Fr., Cararra, Italy) and Phillip Klaus (Fr., Lippstad, Germany) with two goals apiece while four other Sharks have one.

History has been kind to the Sharks when facing Florida Southern as they are 12-5-1 all-time against the Mocs. Head coach Giuseppe DePalo has had enormous success against Florida Southern as he only has one loss against them since joining the staff before the 1999 season, a 2-1 upset on the road in 2008.

Last season, the Sharks travelled to Lakeland, Fla. and defeated the Mocs, 2-0. Former Shark Aly Hassan scored both goals and became the fifth player to cross 30 goals and 80 points in program history. Juan Rivera (Sr., Miami, Fla.) earned his first assist of the 2010 season against the Mocs.

The Sharks will look to avoid being the only team in the SSC without a conference victory Saturday. While the Sharks take on the Mocs, Tampa, a traditional power in the SSC, will be looking for its first conference win against No. 16 Lynn.

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