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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern soccer teams will host the Saint Leo Lions Saturday in a doubleheader at the NSU Soccer Complex. The women (4-5-1, 0-1-1 SSC) get started at 5 p.m. before the men (3-4-2, 0-2-0 SSC) face the 10th ranked Lions (7-1-0, 1-0-0 SSC) at 7:30 p.m.
The women's team is taking on a Saint Leo side (6-3-0, 1-0-0) that beat the Sharks in a non-conference showdown, 4-3, just nine days ago. It was the first of a three-match road trip. This will be NSU's first home match since Sept. 24.
The Sharks will look to get revenge against the Lions at home on Saturday as they begin their three-date home set. When these teams met on Oct. 2, Saint Leo's Arielle Kabungu scored three of the team's goals, en route to victory. She is now the national leader in goals scored at 13.
In NSU's last match, the Sharks fell 2-0 on the road against Barry, in a match that could have gone either way. Malin Broberg (Sr., Stockholm, Sweden) and Hannah Davis (Fr., Bradenton, Fla.) each had great opportunities to tie the match in the second half, however, came up just short. The Lions have played just one match, against Lynn, since their last meeting with the Sharks, a match in which they won 1-0.
The men will face a top-20 nationally ranked squad for the fourth time this season, a mark that does not include currently ranked No. 12 Young Harris, in which the Sharks opened the season against as an unranked team. On top of what has been a brutal schedule, NSU has had to deal with several injuries to starters. The injuries have spread the Sharks thin, leading to their recent three-match skid.
The Sharks have proven to be a formidable side when healthy, going 3-1-1 to start the year. NSU fans can expect a competitive match Saturday, with NSU gradually returning to full strength. NSU has also shown to be more comfortable at home this season, where they are 2-1-1. They hold a goal differential of +6 over four home matches and hold a goals against average of 0.71. Historically, the NSU Soccer Complex has been unkind to Saint Leo. Since 2005, their only win at NSU has come in double overtime, 4-3, in 2011. Overall, each team has eight wins over the other.
Three matches ago, the Sharks traveled to Saint Leo and took a close 2-1 loss. NSU gave up two early goals, but scored in the second half and controlled the tempo down the stretch.
The Sharks will be looking to become the only team outside of No. 2 Rollins to defeat the Lions this season. Saint Leo has been effective offensively, scoring 2.12 goals per match, but have been dominant on the defensive end. Saint Leo leads the Sunshine State Conference in goals allowed (6), goals against average (0.76) and shutouts per match (0.5). Saint Leo has given up multiple goals only once this season.
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HERE and follow the live stats
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www.Twitter.com/NSUSharks.
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